As the daughter of a Dutch postman and his German wife, five-year-old Meta finds her life totally changed when WWII begins. Meta's anxiety is exacerbated by der Stiefel, a Nazi soldier who haunts her. Life continues downhill until starvation renders the formerly vivacious child so weak that she doesn't care if she dies.

After the war ends, poverty, prejudice, and PTSD continue to dog her every step, and Meta finds herself unable to pursue her dream of becoming a physician. Should she give in to despair, just put on a brave face, or accept reality and work towards those goals that are still possible?