Following a catastrophic nuclear war, Sara lives in a town where the government controls every drop of water. Strict rationing tightly regulates residents' lives, and to fall sick is to be executed. Sara's life becomes more dangerous and complicated when she first hides and cares for a small boy who has fallen sick, then takes him in when his parents are taken by the authorities.

Determined to care for the helpless child while struggling to keep alive the memory of her long-dead best friend, Sara leans on her friend's older brother, Josh, an employee of the domineering water company that controls the water rationing. But Josh is under suspicion, and the city's enforcement unit begins to observe their daily activities. Despite knowing that she'd be executed if her actions were known, Sara finds herself deeply and distressingly attracted to the lead investigator, navigating a complicated romance and finding a glimmer of hope in a world long dominated by fear and control.