This is the story of when and why; it is also the true story of Dawn. Dawn was the second child I fostered and nearly became the last. It is set at a time before the Children's Acts, when there was no training for foster carers, no record keeping, no meetings, no background information on the child, little accountability and no support. 'Dump 'em and run' seemed to be the philosophy of the social services at the time, and the more disturbed the child was, the faster and quicker the social services ran. Because of all the changes in fostering and social work practice, this story shouldn't happen now, although I fear there is a foster carer somewhere who can prove differently.

Desperate to start a family, Cathy and her husband John volunteer as foster parents, and during their first placement they are thrilled to discover that Cathy is pregnant. When Adrian is born their lives seem complete, and they eagerly await the arrival of their second foster child, Dawn, a shy and polite girl whom Cathy comes to treat as a daughter.

Soon, however, it becomes obvious that Dawn is going to be much harder to help than they first imagined. One night Cathy awakes to find Dawn standing over her baby's cot, and a nightmare begins. When Cathy asks Dawn about the scars covering her arms, Dawn insists there is nothing to tell.

Cathy slowly discovers the terrible childhood Dawn has had: rejected by her parents, left to fend for herself, then subjected to violent treatment by her relatives. But Cathy soon realises that Dawn's worst enemy is herself.