Everett Behr goes to great lengths to maintain his distance from people so they won't stare at the disfiguring scars he sustained in a fire. A budding friendship with Tillie O'Dell eases his loneliness, but he is convinced she is only being gracious out of pity. Asking her to endure the humiliation of being with him is out of the question.
Tillie sees Everett's scars as noble since he put his own life in danger to save others. How can she convince Everett his scars represent something beautiful to her?