“Mountains to Sands”

In the shadow of the 9/11 tragedy, Elliot Walker, a young man from Washington State, is
forever changed when his younger brother is killed during a school field trip to the Twin
Towers. Devastated and consumed by grief, Elliot enlists in the military, seeking purpose
and vengeance in the wake of his loss. His deployment to Afghanistan seems like an
opportunity to confront the pain and rage he harbors, but the realities of war force him to
reevaluate everything he thought he understood about life, love, and justice.

In a remote Afghan village, Elliot meets Prait, the fiercely independent and strong-willed
eldest daughter of a local elder. Known for her sharp tongue and unwavering resolve, Prait
has struggled to find a suitor willing to embrace her spirit—a source of both pride and
frustration for her traditional family. Against the backdrop of cultural tension and mutual
suspicion, the two are thrust together by circumstance, forming a bond forged in shared
resilience and an unspoken longing for connection.

As Elliot and Prait navigate their differences, they discover a love that transcends borders
and expectations. For Elliot, Prait becomes a beacon of hope and a reminder that healing is
possible, even in the most unlikely of places. For Prait, Elliot’s openness and sincerity
challenge her preconceptions and help her imagine a life beyond the confines of her
village.

But their love is not without obstacles—family loyalties, societal expectations, and the
ever-present shadow of war threaten to tear them apart. Together, they must decide what
sacrifices they are willing to make for the chance to rewrite their futures.