College student Nicholas Dal shares the family talent --- he's a tele-empath who experiences the emotions of others. And overpowering emotion can induce seizures. So Nicholas has lived alone and dull with vodka.

But there's something about a woman in his history class that breaks through his isolation. She is passionate and fiery, yet she hides a sorrow only he can sense. And there is danger for him in their intimacy, for her mother, Susanne, is dying, and has need of Nicholas's talent. Will he risk his love, his sanity, even his life to be with Susanne on her journey past the edge of existence?