Even after landing the job of my dreams and moving in with my long-term boyfriend, I still felt like something was missing. So one day I blew it all up and took a solo trip to one of my dream vacation destinations.

I was only planning to fall back in love with myself and my life. Then, River blew in like a breath of fresh air. I've never experienced such a strong and instant connection with anyone else. Still, dedicated to my healing journey I make him promise that when our trip ends, so do we. But after a week of passion, we just couldn't seem to say goodbye.

So we made another deal: one year later, we'll meet at the same time at the same place.

It's easy to fall in love against the backdrop of a tropical paradise, but when we finally return to reality: family, friendships, and careers pose devastating challenges. I worked hard to be comfortable in my skin again and River is the only one left with the power to unravel me.

A power I swore I would never give to anyone else, ever again.