Lali arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942, and shortly after arrival, he was made one of the tätowierer (tattooists), tasked with inking identification numbers onto fellow prisoners' arms. While doing this, one day he meets Gita, and they experience love at first sight. Under constant guard from a volatile Nazi SS officer Baretzki, Lali and Gita became determined to keep each other alive.

Around 60 years later, Lali meets novice writer Heather Morris. Recently widowed, Lali finds the courage to tell the world his story. In recounting his story to Heather, Lali, now in his 80s, faces the traumatic ghosts of his youth and relives his memories of falling in love in the most horrific of places.