Marie Beaupré has always lived in the shadow of what seems like a family curse. From her earliest days-when her mother Julie struggled as a single parent-to the loss of every supportive figure in her life, Marie's path has been marked by abandonment and grief. When a brief, passionate relationship results in the birth of her daughter Émilie, Marie finally glimpses the possibility of lasting happiness. But will it last? Is she bound by an inescapable fate? During a spontaneous trip to Quebec City, Marie meets Thomas, an architect with dreams that might take him far away. Marie must decide whether to risk her heart once more or surrender to what many see as her fate. In this poignant debut novella, Gregory Sajous weaves a haunting tale that explores the power of connection in the face of loss, the weight of family history, and the courage required to challenge the boundaries fate seems to impose. Through Marie's journey, we discover that while the past shapes us, it need not define us-and that sometimes, what appears to be a forbidden passage is merely the difficult path to redemption.