Rowan is alone. His mother died when he was 10 and his father fell apart and took to drinking to cope and basically leaves Rowan on his own. Rowan is hoping his suffering may stop, but he doesn’t think he’d be able to end it. He has moved schools because he couldn’t afford to stay at his old school, which is where he meets Layla. Layla is doing well in life and has a happy future ahead. She doesn’t know hardship and when she meets Rowan he is unlike anybody she has ever met.