Claire Holloway had lived her life by a promise---to make sure her mother never had to give another fiber of her being to anyone but herself, no matter the cost. Twelve years, countless all-nighters, and a degree in psychology later, she's finally made it. But when a phone call drags her back to her small hometown, Claire realizes that the life she built in the city might have been the biggest mistake of her life. Claire must face the deafening reality that all her work had been for nothing. Charlie Bennett is no stranger to loss. Her marriage is now, or she should say has always been, shattered. Her daughter barely looks her in the eye, and the quiet of her house feels heavier than the fists she's endured in her life. When her daughter unexpectedly returns, Charlie's fragile world begins to crumble under the weight of her daughters hatred towards her--and so does her heart when she crosses paths with someone she never thought she'd see again. Years ago, Claire was Charlie's student---the girl with too many dreams and not enough time to chase them. Now, they are two women standing at the edge of a life neither of them chose for themselves. What begins as an unexpected reunion turns into something far deeper than they could've expected. As old boundaries blur and long-buried emotions resurface, Claire and Charlie must decide whether love can heal the wreckage of their lives -or if some things are better left behind.