Once a contented married woman, Anna was thrust into a bizarre nightmare when her husband, Richard, disappeared without a word. She spent years waiting and wondering why she had disappeared, leaving her in a state of constant confusion.
In the emptiness left by Richard’s departure, Anna struggled with feelings of love, guilt, and the need to go on. Jake, a loyal friend, was there to support her, but Anna found it difficult to completely accept new opportunities because of the memories of Richard.
The pivotal moment occurred during a business trip that brought Anna to an unexpected meeting in a far-off region of the nation. Her idea of a regular life was shattered when she heard a familiar voice during a local church service. Standing before her with another lady was the tall man she had once called her husband.
Following the startling reunion, Richard set up a secret rendezvous at Tom’s Cafe on River Street. He discovered there the story of a former flame, a high school lover who had returned seven years earlier, confessing her thoughts and pleading for pardon. It seems that she still had a hold on Richard’s heart.
The news upended Anna’s entire life, wiping out the years of devoted anticipation and shrouding their former fairy tale in mystery. When Richard revealed that he had remarried, Anna was overcome with anguish and wrath, and she was left to deal with the hurt of betrayal.
Anna made the grave decision to leave, joining the hush that fell after Richard’s years-long disappearance. She struggled with Richard’s forgiveness in the weeks that followed, and she became more determined than ever to live life on her terms.
Anna vowed to herself that she would never live for a man or anybody else but herself as she reached out to Jake, inviting him to finally explore new possibilities. The unanticipated course of events marked a turning point in Anna’s journey—one marked by heartache, self-discovery, and the fortitude to start over after hopes were dashed.