Following the death of her mother, Rina Stevenson keeps her heart under lock and key. Her carefully controlled life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Paul, a handsome architect. A few days together convinces her that Paul is her once-in-a-lifetime love, and she cautiously opens her heart. But a shocking discovery shatters her newfound happiness and catapults her into a self-imposed exile in Manila, away from Paul and her family. While Paul searches for her, Rina struggles to maintain a life of emotional isolation. She volunteers in an orphanage, dates a fellow American, and witnesses a Tibetan sky burial. In this new atmosphere, Rina begins to heal, even though newfound tragedy tests her strength.
A searing loss compels Rina to take a hard look at her life and the barriers surrounding her heart. When all roads seem to lead to a dead end, Rina decides to return home. But is she strong enough to make her way back and fight for what she really wants?
