He Sees You When You're Sleeping: A NovelMeet Sterling Brooks. His was not an exemplary life he was too self absorbed to ever really think about anyone else or make a commitment to the woman he loved. On the other hand, he had endearing qualities. His actual misdeeds were few his were sins of omission, not commission. It is a few days before Christmas. For forty six years Sterling has lingered in the celestial waiting room outside the heavenly gates, awaiting summons by the Heavenly Council.