Sterling was born albino and blind from a sexual assault when her mother was twenty-two. Her mother named her Sterling, hoping that she would shine bright enough to keep the world away. When she sees that Sterling is almost pure white from head to toe, she calls her 'pretty stag' because she resembles a white fawn. She hopes that her daughter will be able to keep her own innocence and not suffer the same fate that she did. Regardless of the baby's blindness Charlotte believes that Sterling was born the way she was to remind her that there is still beauty in the world even in the worst of times. The story follows Sterling's painful journey through life as people take advantage of her and rob her of anything precious to her. Eventually though, Sterling's luck might begin to turn when she realizes how precious her life truly is.