The novel explores the lasting effects of the Holocaust on survivors and their descendants. Ruth, whose parents survived the Holocaust, struggles with unspoken grief and trauma that shapes her family. The sudden reappearance of Henryk and Roman forces her to confront untold stories and find ways to deal with inherited trauma.

Ruth experiences an identity crisis, torn between her role as wife and mother and her desire for self-realization. The appearance of the two men from her parents' past intensifies this feeling and leads her to question her identity and place in the world, while exploring her Jewish roots.

The novel examines the complexity of relationships in various forms - love between spouses, complicated parent-child relationships, and deep connections formed through shared trauma. Ruth's marriage is tested as she deals with her own feelings and unresolved conflicts from her past.