Agnes, a literature professor at a small New England college, lives a quiet life with her cat—until a visit from her old friend Lydie stirs memories of their graduate school days. Back then, Agnes and her close-knit group of classmates studied under celebrated professor Preston Decker. When a private meeting with Decker turns into a traumatic assault, Agnes is left to navigate the aftermath in a community unable—or unwilling—to hold him accountable.

As she struggles with isolation, conflicting emotions, and questions of justice, Agnes finds unexpected moments of connection—with her neighbor, with her students, and eventually with Lydie’s newborn daughter. A poignant exploration of trauma, friendship, and resilience, this is a story about finding one’s voice in the wake of harm—and the fragile hope that life, even in a broken world, can still hold light.