In Part I ("Bird"), a historian and writer named Kyungha wakes from a recurring dream in which she witnesses graves in danger of being washed away by the sea. After extensively researching a historical massacre in order to write a book, Kyungha is unable to cope with the demands of her life. The narrator hints at a family estrangement but does not go into detail. Kyungha emerges from her isolated existence when her friend Inseon texts her from a hospital in Seoul. Inseon sliced off her fingertips in a woodworking accident, and she requests that Kyungha immediately travel to Jeju Island in order to save Inseon's pet bird, Ama.
In Chapter 3, Kyungha arrives on Jeju amidst a heavy snowstorm that affects businesses and public transportation. She finally makes it to Inseon's house, only to find Ama dead. After burying the bird, Kyungha collapses into Inseon's bed. When she awakens in Part II, she finds Ama and Inseon waiting for her. Throughout the rest of the novel, these apparitions keep Kyungha company and interact with her, though the reality of the situation remains ambiguous. Inseon proceeds to share her own research about historical atrocities that occurred on Jeju. This research encompasses personal experience, family stories, speculation, news articles, documents, published accounts, and other archives.
In Part III, Inseon invites Kyungha to go out and see the site where their collaborative project (called "We Do Not Part") was meant to take place. There, they sit in the snow as Inseon tells Kyungha about caring for her deteriorating mother. Feeling the presence of the dead was an immense source of joy for Inseon. Kyungha lights a match once their candle goes out, and the novel ends with an image comparing the match to the wingbeat of a small bird.
