A modern work that follows the journey of a young man who attempts to show a group of individuals that he does not need them and is sufficient on his own.

The piece captures the internal battle the young man is fighting against being lonely. He goes through stages of despair, alienation and finally reconciliation. The group tries to encourage the man to join them while they experience their own trials and tribulations. By the end of The External Knot the man is not certain whether or not he wants to be a part of the group, but it is clear that he has made some sort of breakthrough.