Astrid has a happy life with her mother, Ingrid, a beautiful, free-spirited poet, until Ingrid falls in love with Barry. She murders Barry for revenge and is sent to prison for life. Astrid experiences forbidden love, religion, near-death experiences, drugs, starvation, and how it feels to be loved. She keeps in touch with her mother via letters. While Ingrid's gift is to give Astrid’s is the power to survive