It is a poignant meditation on memory, numerology, and displacement. The narrator, forced to evacuate Ukraine with her son and deaf cat, reflects on her lifelong fascination with numbers, “lucky” rituals, and the small signs of hope that guided her childhood.
Interweaving surreal, darkly humorous stories—like that of the allegorical Vladimir—with vivid recollections of family, travel, and childhood adventures, the narrative navigates the collision of personal life with the chaos of war. Symbols such as the iron Mertsalov Palm embody resilience and unity, anchoring the narrator amid loss, destruction, and uncertainty.
Through memory, imagination, and the everyday kindness of strangers, the story explores survival, hope, and the fragile yet enduring spirit of Ukraine.