In The Born-Again Phoenix, book three of the Birken Saga, Hektor's wife Laura encourages him to pursue his educational dream of earning his PhD -- an adventure he has longed for since early adulthood. So Hektor, now thirty-one, cuts ties with his secure position in retailing/merchandising and embarks on an academic career that will change their lives forever. Over the course of nine years, he and Laura maneuver through numerous challenging road blocks and financial sacrifices until Hektor finally receives his PhD at age forty. At last, his life is fulfilled. Or is it? After being settled into his first academic position, Hektor faces himself in the mirror one morning and doesn't like what he sees. Is this all there is for him? He wonders. On that auspicious morning, he opens a Pandora's Box that brings his relationship with Laura into an abyss of emotional trauma. The obstacles separating them from the happiness they once knew seem insurmountable. Will their love for one another be enough to bridge the chasm?