is introduced in a tranquil morning scene near the outskirts of a Russian city, where Ruth's family is moving into a new house. The reader quickly meets Erik, her father, and Klare-Bel, her mother, who display a dynamic relationship filled with affection yet tinged with the pressures of domestic life. Ruth is portrayed as a sensitive and introspective girl, grappling with her thoughts of belonging and identity. The scene unfolds to reveal her household environment, her parents’ relationship, and the anticipation of her new life as she prepares to leave the familiar school behind, hinting at a larger journey of self-discovery and emotional growth that lies ahead. (This is an automatically generated summary.)