1989. The life of schoolteacher Maria Paramonova changes forever when she learns of the terrible diagnosis of her three-year-old daughter, little Lena. The treatment requires enormous sums of money or useful connections. Maria falls into despair, but soon she gets a chance to save her child. Young Anna, the daughter of the famous writer Bolotov, wants to become a mother, although she cannot have children of her own. Maria gives Lena up for adoption to Anna’s family, which at first glance seems prosperous and happy…