The story unfolds through three interconnected narratives, told through the characters of Yakup, Leyla, and Halil. Three people bound together by love, history, and long, scarred journeys.
Yakup, a 25-year-old student, manages to travel abroad for the first time, breaking a curse that has plagued his family. His destination is the small French coastal town of La Rochelle. He spends three long weeks immersed in the atmosphere of the 1998 World Cup, traveling with people his own age from Bosnia, Serbia, Lebanon, Morocco, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine. The purpose of his travels is to reflect on the woman he left behind in Istanbul, and also to search for new love. During this time, he encounters a tragic European family and wounded Bosnian children.
Meanwhile, on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, Leyla is disturbed by sleep and awakens with conflicting emotions regarding her father. Feridun Seyit had spoken to her earlier, warning his daughter that he was going to commit suicide. A terrifying man, her father inflicted unhealable pain on Leyla's childhood and teenage years. Leyla spends the day wandering the streets of Istanbul, unsure whether to rejoice or mourn the death of her prominent father. During this time, she also begins a personal blog about her husband; they are separated, and he is in political exile.
The reader then meets Halil, a student leader from the 1970s. Halil carries a secret that has burned within him since childhood. This secret was also the reason for his separation from Leyla. While waiting for the ferry to take his son to camp, he reflects on the events that shaped his destiny, beginning with his time as a shepherd in the Butan Valley. His journey will be marked by encounters with Venezuelan military personnel on the banks of the Butan Creek.
