At the age of forty-three, Sanford Tyler survives a heart attack. It was actually cardiac insufficiency, but Sanford does not really understand the difference. Six weeks of bed rest and six months of no work, no athletics, and no sex are his sentence. Almost immediately, the loneliness and betrayal suffocate Tyler. His wife, Viola, moves into another room, his children avoid him, and his law partners keep him at arm's length. Even reading and television elude him. After three weeks, Tyler sees his pale face in the bathroom mirror for the first time. It shocks him. Hollow eyes, pale skin, and, for the first time, white patches in his beard. The blow is so destabilizing that he spends the evening calling his closest friends and family, but their inability — or unwillingness — to visit disappoints him. Despite Viola's objections, Tyler's youngest, Eric, drops in to read him a story one night. He chooses one about the solar system, and they begin to discuss how far away Pluto is. From then on, Tyler begins to leave his room to play with Eric, and the days pass more quickly. Finally, the six weeks are over. The outside world invigorates Tyler. He decides to pick Eric up from school. To his shock, Eric wants nothing to do with him. He pummels Tyler and yells that he is sick. Eventually, they make their way home. That night, Tyler has a nightmare from his time in the war — he sees an Italian fresco of Aeneas as he carries Anchises from the burning Troy. Concerned, Viola comes into the room and offers to stay. While she sleeps next to him, Tyler resolves that he doesn't need Eric to take the burden of caring for him quite yet. Tomorrow will be a new day.