1988. The Deep South.
Deadly silence surrounds Barb Hensen—no one speaks of the violence in their midst. Raised to fulfill her family's expectations, she marries young and has a daughter. When the horror of her marriage becomes intolerable, she escapes into alcohol, drugs, and anorexia.
Until the day Yona Adohi drives into her life. Through her friendship with the lesbian Yankee, Barb begins the journey of self-discovery. Punished by her husband for defying him, suicide becomes the only viable alternative. The suicide attempt forces Barb to make a difficult decision: go against her family and divorce; or remain in an abusive marriage and die.
Barb leaves her marriage. In revenge, her ex-husband uses the biased court system and takes Barb's daughter hostage.
When Barb is faced with an impossible decision to either give up her life, or lose her child, she turns to Yona for help.