Lead Tears tells the story of a lost soul named Vert and his search for purpose. He works as a Witness, which is a "new and necessary profession" in the near future. Witnesses are paid observers who document important events in reports written from their unique perspectives. Vert grapples with the absurdities of his lucrative line of work as he encounters people living lives they loathe.

Wordplay is an important element of the plot; the title itself is a homograph that is key to the narrative. The story is part satire and part existential discourse...it's also funny and heartfelt.