Clay Beresford, Jr. has inherited his late father's financial business. Under the thumb of his overly protective mother Lilith, Clay is hesitant to reveal the details of his engagement to Sam Lockwood. Matters are further complicated by Clay's ailing heart, and he desperately needs a new heart. Clay gets the chance at a new heart and Clay's close surgeon friend Jack is going to be performing the operation. All goes well at the beginning of the surgery, with Clay gently coming under the influence of general anesthesia. But he suffers from "anesthetic awareness" and finds himself awake and completely aware, but paralyzed. Now Sam must wrestle with her own demons as Clay continues to wrestle with his.