Like his past twenty-eight birthdays, Liam Schaffer's special day is hijacked when his older brother Russell announces the most typical of news: his doctors have extended his life expectancy to another six months. As usual, all of the birthday gifts are given to Russell instead while Liam hopelessly watches on. Russell later stakes claim to the one thing that matters most to Liam: Elena Cameron. Liam and Elena both see through Russell's guilt-laced and manipulative ways, but fear the social stigma attached to standing up to him. They quickly learn that something has to give, and in the end, what gives is nothing short of a miracle.