This is a story of two young friends who fought together in Vietnam. One was wounded, and the other helped save his life but in the process administered a dose of morphine, which led to addiction and a downward spiral, leading to the death of one due to overdose. The protagonist, Michael Duarte, suffers from PTSD but doesn't know it. All he knows is that he suffers from nightmares and headaches and guilt over the loss of his friend. He can't maintain a relationship with anyone for very long, leading to a string of relationships. In a series of flashbacks, Duarte looks back at his life.