William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him. He once had a sister, but she died. Just like My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece. So it’s a relief when his skill on the basketball court earns him a scholarship to college, far away from his childhood home. He soon meets Julia Padavano, a spirited and ambitious young woman who surprises William with her appreciation of his quiet steadiness.