Candace Chen, a millennial and drone worker in a Manhattan office tower, clings to routines. After the recent death of her Chinese immigrant parents, she's tired of uncertainty. She's content to carry on as usual: going to work, solving problems with the teen-focused Gemstone Bible, and watching movies in a Greenpoint basement with her boyfriend. Because of this, she barely notices that a plague of biblical proportions is sweeping New York City. As Shen Fever spreads, families flee, businesses shut down, and subways grind to a halt. Her bosses ask her to join a dwindling emergency crew, promising a large payout at the end. Left alone and still healthy, she documents the deserted city as the anonymous blogger NY Ghost. But Candace realizes she can't stay alone forever. Then she meets a group of survivors led by the power-hungry IT technician Bob. They journey to a place called Paradise; There, Bob promises, they'll find everything they need to rebuild society. But Candace has a secret that Bob can exploit. Must she escape her shipowners? Ling Ma's "Severance" is a sharp satire that critiques the rituals, routines, and missed opportunities of modern life. It's simultaneously a moving family story, a quirky coming-of-age novel, and a hilarious, deadpan comedy. Crucially, it celebrates the connections that motivate us to do more than just survive.