The blind side of the heart

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In a chaotic 1945 German railway station, Helene flees west with her seven-year-old son but ultimately abandons him on the platform, never to return. Years earlier, her childhood in rural Germany is shattered by the First World War. After her father is sent to the eastern front and dies, their Jewish mother descends into a mental state Helene describes as the "blindness of the heart." This emotional detachment leaves Helene and her sister Martha feeling increasingly isolated. In the early 1920s, they move to Berlin, where Helene falls in love with Carl, only to face heartbreak when he dies just before their engagement. Seeking solace, she immerses herself in her work as a nurse. At a party, she meets Wilhelm, an ambitious civil engineer eager to build motorways for the Reich and marry Helene. Their marriage quickly spirals into disaster, leading them to Stettin, where Helene's son is born. Struggling to meet her child's emotional needs, she becomes consumed by the idea of disappearing. The narrative explores the impact of two World Wars, weaving themes of hope, loneliness, and love into the life of a remarkable woman navigating a tumultuous era.