Hazel is a quiet 18-year-old who lives in a flat in Poplar, London, with her parents. She is a piano player and first meets James when she plays at a parish dance in Poplar. The two have a whirlwind romance during James’s remaining days in London. After James has been sent to France, Hazel volunteers to play piano and comfort soldiers with the YMCA in France. She is stationed at the American camp at Saint-Nazaire. Later, Hazel is badly injured when the train she is traveling on in France is bombed by German shells. She is permanently disfigured with scars on her face caused by broken glass in the wrecked train carriage. Though she has no qualms about committing to James despite his psychological scars from the war, she at first does not expect him to continue loving her with her changed face. Overcoming this obstacle together only strengthens their relationship.

After the war, James and Hazel get married. They have two children together. James becomes an architect, and Hazel earns a place at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. She continues to play piano professionally, as well as tutoring piano students.