The story begins with the protagonist, a middle‐aged teacher named Doreen Seko, reflecting on her past. She begins to discuss the relationships she’s had in the past and present and how these have shaped her identity.
She thinks backs to her marriage with Martin, a traditional relationship burdened with social expectations. This was the eventual downfall for their relationship, as society and the role of women were conflicting ideologies for the pair. Doreen describes her marriage as “like walking in the rain, in the cold, wet season, without an umbrella.” The marriage comes to end after she fails to give birth to a male son.
Doreen then meets Joseph, a retired diplomat, who teaches her to express her love through art. Unlike Martin, Joseph is interested in “parched earth and its quest for rain” and is an advocate for women’s rights. He teaches Doreen how to love herself once again, and the two fall in love and live happily together.
