Maya lives in Solon, a vulnerable human settlement existing outside Earth's fortified Shelter cities after the planet's near-total devastation by the alien Dracters. Her health is fragile, severely compromised by the pervasive pollution left by the Dracters' terraforming. This toxic environment triggers frequent seizures, often confining her to bed and preventing normal daily activities. Chronic illness and relentless physical suffering have extinguished her will to live.