May in Russian university town. The scent of blooming lilacs, the bitter taste of a hurried cappuccino, and the desperate need to skip a lecture. For Oxana it was supposed to be a simple lie.

She didn't expect him. Alexander Ivanovich — in Russia, the use of a patronymic commands respect and maintains distance—is more than just a physician. He doesn't offer typical prescriptions.

As the sterile lines between doctor and patient begin to blur, Oksana discovers that his methods are older, deeper, and far more intimate than any prescription—rooted in traditions that cleanse, press, and invade long before they heal.