1968

1968 is the story of four friends in their senior year in college at Michigan State University, living through, and confronting the cataclysmic social and political events of the year. It's also the story of a very passionate, but ultimately tragic love affair of Benny and Aurora, the wild, exotic, sexy, talented, and enigmatic young woman who will forever capture his heart.
Benny, later a famous writer, initiates a reunion, in 1988, with his two former best friends: Art and "Wiggy," friends whose relationship had been tattered with Aurora's death. He has written a reminiscence of their year together, and wants to reunite, reminisce, get their permission to publish it, and most importantly, reaffirm their deep friendship.
They meet at a beach cabin along the Lake Michigan dunes, where they often retreated that year. The story of 1968 combines sections from his book, a retelling of the events of the year and mostly, a longing narrative about Aurora.
Aurora re-meets the three friends over a few months, before she makes a bold move to go find Benny at Michigan State, where he is the editor of a syndicated weekly, the National Student Newspaper (NSN).
At Benny's invitation, she moves into the house that he shares with Art and Wiggy, and starts fitting into a dynamic role as a writer and columnist at the NSN, and also becomes Benny's passionate lover and collaborator. Together they cover the Democratic Primary in New Hampshire, the rise of Gene McCarthy's anti-war candidacy, and later Bobby Kennedy's presidential campaign. At Notre Dame, Aurora has a personal encounter with Kennedy, who gives her the tie he is wearing and invites her and the NSN to gain access to his campaign.
At the NSN, Benny, Aurora and the other student journalists report on the war, and become a national voice for the cultural revolution of the late 60s.
Aurora's wild ways involve a dabbling in and out of drugs, sexual adventures, and other destabilizing behavior. Deeply in love, Benny is tested to bring stability to her, and the relationship.
They travel to Chicago for the Democratic Convention and are engulfed in the explosive protests and events of the convention. Caught in the violent melee, Aurora's head is beaten, and they barely escape with their lives.
Benny does his best to love Aurora through her tempestuous life, but the relationship is strained, as is Benny's relationship with Wiggy and Art, who admire the charisma and talent of Aurora, but find her too difficult to deal with, finally moving out, and causing a rift that will rupture their friendship.
Descending into yet another bout of depression after Nixon is elected, Aurora heads back into drugs and unstable behavior, resigning from school and returning home briefly to her parents. As the end of the year approaches, Aurora goes in and out of emotional stability, while Benny struggles to understand and protect her, mostly from herself.
But it isn't enough. As a wild, a drunk, drugged Aurora gets on a motorcycle with an equally drunk driver and there is an accident that kills the driver and leaves Aurora a paraplegic. Benny tries to comfort and give her hope, even as she pleads to end her life.
After Aurora begins physical therapy, he has to face up with the enormity of his living with, and caring for her in a sexless, dependent relationship his whole life. When he returns to Aurora, still drunk from the night before, he does not see her awake and trying to put a note on him, a note of life affirming resolve and her love for him. She falls to the ground head first, killing herself in the impact.
In 1988, the three friends reunite for remembrance, celebration, confession and renewal. They read his book, reveal previously undisclosed facts, gain and give forgiveness, and allow him to publish his book.