Sebastian, a lonely 17-year-old, is suffocating under his dominant father’s control. In the 10 years since his mother passed away, his father has kept him “safe” by barely allowing him out of their apartment. Sebastian’s secret late-night subway rides are rare acts of rebellion. Maria, a young mother of two, is trying to keep peace at home despite her boyfriend’s abuse. When she loses her job, she avoids telling him by riding the subways during her usual late-night shift. She knows she needs to “live in the truth.” But she still hasn’t been able to bring herself to do it. And soon he will expect her paycheck to arrive. 

When Sebastian and Maria wind up on the same train, these two strangers find a connection that neither can explain or ignore. Together they dream of a new future, agreeing to run away. But Maria doesn’t know Sebastian is only 17. And Sebastian doesn’t know Maria has children until the moment they leave. Ultimately, Maria brings one child, her daughter. But can she really leave her little boy behind? 

In this tremendously moving novel, Catherine Ryan Hyde shows us how two people trapped by life’s circumstances can break free and find a place in the world where love is genuine and selfless.