- A directionless 19-year-old girl, who has aged out of the foster care system, struggles to live independently and find her path in life. She discovers her potential unexpectedly after meeting a troubled friend from the past.
- The film opens with Charlotte wearily talking to her case worker about the difficulties of adult life since she left the foster care system. She wants to make a change, especially after seeing what happened to her friend Sarah, another foster youth that she was friendly with from the group home.
Weeks beforehand, Charlotte is seen cleaning at an office. She is exhausted after working a fully day at the diner, her second job. As she wipes a picture frame, she notices how happy the family is in the photo and momentarily reflects on how she never had a normal family life. Her boss sees her staring at the photo and reprimands her to be more efficient in her cleaning.
After a long day of work, Charlotte returns home to discover little food in the fridge and unopened bills that are overdue. Her roommate, Amy, seems to be self-harming herself with cigarette burns, but Charlotte somewhat ignores it. Charlotte reveals her unhappiness at how tired she is and how boring and mundane her life is. There must be a better way to live, she thinks. Amy reminds her that it's better to be on their own rather than being in a bad foster family and moving around every few years. Charlotte finds solace in her journal writing.
The next morning, Charlotte's boyfriend, Jake, is over at the apartment. He has a narcissistic personality and is emotionally abusive to Charlotte. He pushes her to have sex even though she is ambivalent and would rather "escape" through reading.
One night after work, Charlotte is at the library when she sees someone familiar. It is Sarah, her friend from the group home they lived at when they were in high school. Charlotte finds out that Sarah has been homeless for two years since running away from her abusive foster dad. Charlotte notices Sarah's illustrations and comments that they are good enough to sell. Charlotte is concerned about Sarah being on the streets, but Sarah says she has gotten used to it and has a buddy that watches out for her.
At her night job, Charlotte thinks back to the friendship she had with Sarah when they were at the group home. She was sad when she had come from school to find out that Sarah had been placed at a new foster home and left without saying goodbye.
While walking home one night, she is surprised and disappointed to see Sarah with a homeless man selling drugs on the side. Charlotte approaches Sarah, asking about Joe - the homeless man - and why she has made the choices she has made. Charlotte thinks she can help Sarah get off the streets, but Sarah resists.
Charlotte goes to Amy to see if Sarah can stay with them until she gets back on her feet. Amy says it might be a little tight, but they can give it a try. Days later, Charlotte goes to visit Sarah and instead sees Joe distraught and shaking. Charlotte is devastated when she hears that Sarah was killed the previous night in a drug-deal gone wrong. Joe gives Charlotte's Sarah's drawings and art bag to keep in a safe place.
In the present day, Charlotte continues to talk to her social worker. She wants to do something in Sarah's honor, so others do not forget about Sarah's presence in the world. Charlotte wants to improve her life, and Diana encourages her to take writing classes at the community college.
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