Linus Grey survives years of abuse by his uncle Stan, who hides his mother's letters and burns his belongings. After Stan's imprisonment, Linus finds healing through foster parents Margaret and David, becomes a therapist for traumatized children, and adopts a troubled boy named Samuel. The chain of hope continues through Mira, a former client turned social worker; Eli, a selectively mute boy who saves a sparrow; Maya, a girl who listens to stones and forgives her mother; and finally Samuel, who becomes a father himself. The river flows. The stones listen. The keepers hold the warmth.
