The story is set in an Armenian monastery, Hagigadar, in the middle of a field. The protagonist, Cucoana Aneta, tells the story of her youth, when she stayed at the monastery during a harsh winter. Her brother had left the monastery to visit family in Romania and left her in charge of the monastery with keys to the pantries. One night, she hears someone trying to open the locked door and fears for her safety. She crawls along the wall to check the latch, and her heart sinks when she finds it pulled. The dog begins to bark and struggle, and Cucoana Aneta must find a way to protect herself and the children in her care. The story is about the dangers of solitude and the importance of human connection.
