Daryls first novel recounts the real-life story of Doru Rain. As Doru and his friend Ludwig try to elude capture from the securitat, the tragedy of Dorus family reveals the hardships of life under the reign of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. Along the way, his father dies, his mother drowns, and the necessities of life disappear. Doru, desperate for a better life, risks all as he flees the country, even leaving his young family behind.