When Maria gets a job at Anthony's donut and coffeehouse in New York City, she's thrilled to be working.

Things change quickly when she falls in love with Anthony, a married (and much older) man and father. Even though Maria is a woman of good morals she can't get Anthony out of her system. She knows right from wrong, but she is mesmerized by him and can't let go.

After Maria gets pregnant and has Anthony's baby, she moves everything she owns into his place, a low-rent apartment that is infested with cockroaches and mice. She couldn't be happier: She's seventeen and finally has her man.

The couple eventually get married and have three more children, but that doesn't stop Anthony from gambling and chasing other women. Through it all, Maria finishes her education to become a Registered Nurse, and works hard to support her children.

When Maria finally realizes Anthony will never change, the two separate, then shortly afterwards she begins suffering neurological symptoms, and she discovers she has early-onset Parkinson's.

Just like that, she must start dealing with life as a patient on The Other Side.