Indomitable

Traveling in a canoe in Okefenokee -the land of trembling earth- from Moniac to the St. Mary’s River. This was one of the 10 wishes on Abigail’s list, and Doss Michaels was willing to make it all come true.

Abigail Grace Coleman and Doss Michaels, the two main characters of Where the River Ends by Charles Martin, were on two completely different paths until they met. Abigail was a model, aspiring interior designer and the senator’s daughter, while Doss was a fishing guide and a struggling artist. Since their meeting consists of him saving her during a burglar attack, he immediately goes up a notch by becoming the town’s hero. They fall in love and experience the different worlds in each other’s lives. Although on the surface it appears to be just another common romantic story--two adults from different social status fall in love and have conflict with those who oppose--this novel is quite the contrary. As you get further into the book, the problems and situations become more complicated and realistic.

The “second part” of the story in Where the River Ends depicts the problems they struggle with and how they face them. Abigail is diagnosed with cancer, and even though they relentlessly see the best doctors and receive all known treatments, the disease remains indomitable. Everything starts falling apart; her family feels useless; her friends stop talking to her little by little; her career is over. The only thing manifest from her unfortunate condition is her relationship with Doss. Even though her appearance deteriorates, he stands by her, faithfully and with unconditional love and support. The fact that she has a terminal disease does not change how he feels about her, while knowing he will lose a lot more in the end.

They both go on a trip, despite the consequences they know they will have to face later. They go according to Abigail’s list: to ride an antique carousel, to loopty loop in an old plane, to sip wine on the beach, to go skinny-dipping, to swim with dolphins, to wet a line, to pose, to dance with husband, to laugh so hard it hurts, and to travel the river all the way from Moniac. Throughout their journey, the things on the list are easily accomplished and are not physically demanding. However, it is the dangerous experiences they encounter that become life threatening: from the bad weather to the lack of medicine to even crazy hunters. In the end, Abigail and Doss are convinced it was all worth it.

Charles Martin writes a heartwarming and romantic book, which is also full of suspense and action. He provokes the reader to be cognizant that even in the worst of times love can surpass all barriers and prevail. Doss came to realize that despite Abigail’s illness, she had provided him support through the tribulations as if he was the afflicted one. She was the one that kept him afloat, and he learned that the trip wasn’t really for her but for him. It was her way of helping each other in this difficult time and giving him memories of what could be their last adventure together. In the end, Abigail proves she is the one indomitable, not her illness.