Two and a half years since Cassie's mother put her in a mental institution against her will, Cassie has turned eighteen and been emancipated. She is, however, entirely unready for college life, and the psychological damage done by her mother proves hard to get rid of. Then Cassie learns truths about her family that makes her wonder if it was her mother all along with mental illness, and, if so, Cassie wonders if she has the responsibility of trying to help her.