For countless years, Jane Cahill has endured a life overshadowed by neglect and cruelty in the household of her aunt and uncle. Although her aunt possesses a gentle heart, she lacks the fortitude to oppose her domineering husband. Jane’s uncle harbors a deep-seated grudge, unjustly blaming her for his brother's murder, treating her with nothing less than utter contempt.

As a child, Jane's world was shattered when her own mother, driven to desperation, took the life of her father—an abusive and tyrannical man who not only brutalized his wife but also menaced young Jane. Now, her mother languishes in prison for this grave act, having requested that Jane never attempt to contact her. These bleak and grim chapters of her life have turned Jane into a solitary recluse, shying away from human connection.

Upon reaching an age where independence becomes possible, Jane departs from her aunt and uncle’s oppressive home. She returns to the crumbling remnants of her parents’ house, a place once full of tumult and now silent in decay. Here, she resolves to carve out a solitary existence, nurturing a life from the earth by tending a garden and raising rabbits to sustain herself.