Transfixed by the shimmering sequins scattered across the floor, Ana, the 20-year-old principal dancer at the New York Ballet Academy, is transported back to a time of both profound joy and profound sorrow.
A torrent of memories floods her mind, awakening her senses with delight. Ana feels compelled to share her recollections with her closest friend, Mark, who is captivated by every word. Each day, Mark implores Ana to reveal a little more...
Her once blissful existence at home, surrounded by the boundless love of her parents and grandmother, is shattered by the ravages of the 1989 war between Armenians and Azerbaijanis.
Crushed dreams of dancing, the desperate pursuit of survival, the heart-wrenching loss of her parents and later her cherished grandmother, the journey through foster families, the discovery of love, the realization of her ballet aspirations, and finally, Ana's courageous act of becoming a kidney donor for her foster mother.
What you are about to read is not easy, but it is a tale of bravery, resilience, love, and unwavering determination that deserves to be shared.