In 1976, the two students Mimi and Lungelo meet at the university in Soweto and fall in love. They dream of a future together. But everyday life in their South African homeland is hard, dominated by the struggle for food, shelter, and medical care. When Mimi contracts tuberculosis, she initially keeps it a secret. As her condition worsens, she breaks up with Lungelo, but finds a friend in Zoleka, who stands by her.