Born in 1902, Rose Walsh remembers a simple childhood. Faded memories come to mind when she thinks of the beginning of the Great War. When she was fifteen, her father, Robert, departed in 1917 to fight for the Allies. He returned just over two years later, a complete stranger. Her mother, Margaret, worked as a bank clerk during that time and they grew very close while Robert was away.

In 1918, influenza swept through the east coast city, and Rose's mother passed away before her husband could get home. Her father didn't talk about his wife when he returned, and left his daughter to mourn in solitude. Robert established himself as a banker at the Home Savings bank, and brought the small family an income that allowed them to stay connected and fashionable after the war. However, he didn't much care for anything outside of his work, and his books. In an effort to connect with him, Rose read voraciously, in vain it turns out. However, a love of reading sparked and she continued to seek new literature.

Now, it's 1920, things are going to start changing. Rose is going to take control of her life, find a place to live, cut her hair. A new beginning...