In Sue Monk Kidd's, The Secret Life of Bees, Lilly embarks on a journey to run away with Rosaleen, their maid. The reason Lily does this, is because she wants to run away from her father. Lily's father abused her and acted as if he hated her. And as for Lily's mother, she had never really known her. Right before Lily left her father told her about her mothers death. Lily was very young when her mother died, so she was extremely curious to find out how she'd died. T-Ray, Lily's father said the day she died she was packing her bags. He said she was moving out and not taking Lily with her. Lily couldn't believe this. She was stuck by the fact that her mother left her. Then T-Ray continued by saying. The day your mother left... we were arguing. Then he told her that Lily, who was crawling on the ground, lifted a gun and pulled the trigger. That was the day her mother died. Lily was flabbergasted by the fact that she was the reason her mother was dead. Lily was only a mere child when this happened. She felt awful after finding out the news.

When Lily ran away, she goes to find a cirtan house that makes honey. She decides to head towards Tiburon, the town written on the back of her mothers black Mary picture that was taped to a honey jar. This jar was one of the only memento's Lily had of her mother. Lily and Rosaleen arrived at the pink house of August Boatwright, who is a middle-aged black woman who takes them into her home. Then after months with August, Lily finds out that her mother stayed with August when she left her husband and Lily for the first time. To her surprise, Lily learns things about her mothers past from August. The truth in life is that when you run into obstacles and feel alone and sorry for yourself you can find true compassion within yourself and more through others to find the impossible.

This story of fate relates to Santiago in the Old Man and The Sea. Santiago was a fisherman who went 84 days without a catch. He had no money, no family and feels like he is unlucky. Thanks to the boy, Manolin, Santiago feels like he will be able to catch a fish again. By taking a leap of faith, Santiago catches a huge fish and Lily finds August who acts as a new mother. "There is nothing perfect, there is only life." By going out of your comfort zone, you can find friends and family who can impact the rest of your lives.