No Two Persons: A Novel

William, having retired slightly early from his job as a civil engineer, is on his way to begin a new life as the caretaker of a ghost town in remote Northeastern California. He’s recently lost his wife to cancer, and he hears her voice in his mind, urging him to “shake things up.” As he drives toward his new life, he reflects on the unexpected things that have happened in his life—most notably the unplanned pregnancy that led to the birth of his now-grown daughter, Clara. William admired the spirit of adventure with which his wife greeted the news, and now he aspires to be more like her.

Now that he’s on the road, William wonders if he’s making the right decision. The ghost town’s location is extremely remote, and the drive is treacherous. He tries channeling Abigail’s encouragement.

The building where William will stay is dirty and decrepit. He hopes he’ll be okay here alone. In the morning, William feels absent-minded and overwhelmed. He wants to go home but realizes, having sold the house after Abigail’s death, he no longer has a home. Selling the house, he thought at the time, was a way to gain closure after Abigail’s death and a way to end the story of their relationship.