The author chronicles how the U.S. government gave her and her Brazilian-born lover, Felipe, an ultimatum, marry or Felipe cannot enter the country again; and how she tackled her fears through research and personal reflection on the enduring institution of marriage.

A happily married woman who is trying to get pregnant realizes that her life needs to go in a new direction. After a very painful divorce, she risks everything and embarks on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery.