The Red Door

Book excerpt: Ana, rejected by her mother and sexually abused by her father, has carried the weight of her traumatic experiences long enough. At the age of 30, she walks across Spain on the 780-kilometer el Camino Trail searching for an end to her childhood pain. The overwhelming physical demands of the walk add to Ana's emotional suffering. Through an unlikely friendship with Richard, a gentle, older man in the early stages of Alzheimer's, Ana gains the support and companionship she desires. Richard teaches Ana to leave the past behind and live in the here and now -- as his illness has forced him to do. These two become improbable friends: one who cannot remember and one who cannot forget. Will Ana finally find the acceptance, friendship and love she requires, or are these to forever be beyond her reach?