In this probing novel, FJ Rocca examines the phenomenon of the idiot-savant, in this case, a mentally handicapped young man who is a genius with a paintbrush or a lump of charcoal. While he may not possess ordinary language and speech, he speaks through his paintings. They are more than pictures. They are conversations of imagery through which he interprets the world he sees. His talent clashes with a would-be painter who cannot tolerate the contrast of brilliance and mediocrity; while a famous psychiatrist searches to discover a way to help him survive and find the light. His talent gives hope to his mother, who wants only to open a window into that room full of light she knows is inside his mind. But hope is a two-edged sword that can cut its way through the heart of its holder.