Pauline, a hardworking janitor and single mom, wants to buy her 8-year-old daughter, Eve, a birthday gift. With little money, she visits a flea market and finds a vintage doll she hopes will make Eve smile, especially since the girl often feels left out at school.

On Eve’s birthday, she’s thrilled with the doll. But when Pauline hands it to her, she hears a strange crackling sound. Inside, she finds a hidden note that reads, “Happy Birthday, Mommy,” written in a child’s handwriting.

Concerned, Pauline returns to the market and finds Miriam, the seller. Miriam becomes emotional—her daughter, who passed away from cancer, had gifted her that doll. They had been selling belongings to cope with the loss and medical bills.

The two women bond over their struggles. Days later, Miriam visits Pauline with an envelope containing \$3,000—money raised from selling her daughter’s items—to help support Pauline and Eve.