Absent In The Spring by Mary Westmacott

Set against the backdrop of a desolate Middle Eastern landscape, the story follows Joan Scudamore, a seemingly content and self-assured Englishwoman, who finds herself stranded at a remote train station. With nothing but time on her hands, Joan embarks on an introspective journey, peeling back the layers of her life and confronting the uncomfortable truths about her relationships and self-perception. As she delves deeper into her memories and emotions, Joan is forced to reconcile the facade she has maintained with the reality of her unfulfilled existence, leading to a profound personal revelation.