A castle with red walls

Against a harsh backdrop of gritty spaces, a strict culture, unrequited love, and concealment, each day is an exhausting struggle for Maryam, who has multiple jobs and two children to raise alone. Steadfast emotional privacy has been the key to survival. When one child falls ill, Maryam is forced to let people in, causing long-held secrets to be exposed, revealing previous relationships from a complicated past—and a transgender identity. This honest glimpse into one person’s struggles against poverty and prejudice is a reminder of the persistence of life within us all.