Ben Wolf is starting his senior year at Trout High School in his small hometown of Trout, Idaho. He plans to spend his final year reading everything he can, challenging his teachers, excelling in cross country, and asking out his classmate Dallas Suzuki. However, he discovers he might not finish high school just weeks after his 18th birthday.

Doctor Wagner calls a meeting with Ben after his running physical (2). He wants Ben’s parents to be there, too, but Ben says they can’t make it. Doc reveals that Ben has a rare blood disease and only has one year to live. Ben can’t imagine breaking the news to his parents or his brother, Cody. His mother has bipolar disorder, and the family already works hard to support her.

Ben goes for a run to think about the news. He listens to a song, remembers a dream he had, and considers what to do. Afterward, he returns to Doc’s office and announces that he isn’t going to tell anyone, not even his family, about his diagnosis. He makes Doc promise to keep it confidential.

Doc takes Ben to a specialist in Denver a few weeks later.