Sudden Departures (The Approximate Distance To Limbo, Act One)

When we left Richard, he was hospitalized after a series of events that may or may not have been in his head. All that pain and confusion, all those nights of sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll, and of course, all those stories he wrote, and he can't be too certain any of it really happened. Except, as it turns out, some of it actually did happen, as at least some of it helped pay for his hospital stay, and keep his apartment waiting for him.Things have changed considerably since those days, but not as much as you might expect. Richard has finally been released. His friends have relocated all over the East Coast. Christmas is coming. Some of his friends are in better shape than others. Some are in more trouble than anyone realizes. And Richard wants to make up for all the trouble he put everyone through, if he can.Is it ever possible to go home again? Are there things that can never be forgiven? How long can relationships last in the face of insanity? How far down does a man have to fall before his friends can no longer reach out to help him? How far does a man have to travel to find redemption? And can a man's death open doors for everyone to find peace and happiness, including for himself?