After two years at the Russian front Ernst Graeber finally receives three weeks’ leave. But since leaves have been canceled before he decides not to write his parents fearing he would just raise their hopes. Then when Graeber arrives home he finds his house bombed to ruin and his parents nowhere in sight. Nobody knows if they are dead or alive. As his leave draws to a close Graeber reaches out to Elisabeth a childhood friend. Like him she is imprisoned in a world she did not create. But in a time of war love seems a world away. And sometimes temporary comfort can lead to something unexpected and redeeming.