Jennifer Marino

Both Sides Now Jennifer Marino

Jackie is in a coma after she falls off her horse in a riding accident at the age of fifty-two. While floating in a sublime state of unconsciousness, she reunites with her mother who died forty years ago, when Jackie was twelve. She promised herself that day that she would never love again, as it hurt too much to lose someone.

Jackie believes she has finally gone to Heaven to be with her mom for eternity, but her mother tells her otherwise; she must return to her life, as she's not done, yet. To be released from the coma, she must retrace the seasons of her life, learn from her mistakes, and let them go. She must forgive her father for abandoning her, her stepmother for kicking her out, but most of all she must forgive herself.

Jackie has been on the run ever since her mom died making one bad choice after another, trying to outrun her broken heart. She was molested at the age eight, lost her virginity to rape at thirteen and was homeless at fifteen. At sixteen, she was introduced to the world of sex trafficking. Facing her brokenness is the last thing she wants to do. She realizes that her mother is right. She doesn't want to run away from true love anymore. She is married to the man of her dreams but hasn't completely opened her heart to him. She looks at her life from the heavenlies, as if she is watching a movie based on her life story. As painful as it is to watch, she must re-enter the darkness to emerge into the light.

Will Jackie be able to look at her life, learn from her mistakes and let them go, once and for all?

Or will she choose to stay with her mother in Heaven, as it's too hard to let go of her past?