Elisa is a young, vibrant art school grad, working in a gallery in New York City and lingering in her rented art studio, chipping away at the years of practice it will surely take for her to become a successful painter.  Gabe is an older ex drug dealer, who served time in prison and has worked in a camera store for 20 years. An unlikely pairing, who fall in love, move in together, and lead a quiet yet happy life.

Gabe's credentials may be unappealing, but Silber reveals to us a wise, dependable man.  A rare breed, who is content with what he has.  Gabe is well-read and street smart, and you begin to wonder if he missed his calling in life. But he doesn't. Perhaps Elisa is his calling.

Elisa is young, sometimes scattered. Her wild past makes you wonder why she is content in this relationship at such a young age.  She sometimes takes Gabe for granted, but appreciates his sweet ways. 

Happily living together, they decide to marry, but while planning their wedding, a devastating turn of events changes the course of their lives. When during a routine medical exam, Elisa is diagnosed as being HIV positive. They forge ahead, but Elisa chooses to ignore her illness, while Gabe devours every piece of information he can. He encourages her in every way a partner should - doing research, offering emotional and physical support, creating healthy meals and purchasing vitamins and herbs for her.  He tries to encourage Elisa to accept her illness as a "gift" of sorts, to appreciate the preciousness of life.

Ultimately, their different ways of handling the news collide. And, after running into the old boyfriend Elisa believed gave her the disease, who is also stricken with the virus, she begins an affair that ultimately tears her and Gabe apart. With Jason, Elisa feels free, free of judgment, free of the fear of passing the virus on, and free of Gabe's never-ending reminders of her illness. But Jason can be harsh and uncaring. Gabe was so reassuring and safe.

And Gabe, without Elisa, is evaluating his life. Why isn't he more successful? He himself has an encounter with an old flame, who becomes obviously uncomfortable when it's apparent he just works in the camera store and doesn't own it. He was happy before in his life with Elisa. Does he want more now that she is gone and the true realities of his existence emerge?

Elisa is torn. If she did want Gabe back, would it be too late?