While Boris was away, Anna and her family were accused of being enemies of the state and they were forced to live as exiles in Siberia. By the time Boris again returned to the village, Anna was gone and no one knew where she now lived.
Boris desperately searched for her but could not find his young wife.
Meanwhile in Siberia, Anna was broken hearted. Her mother was desperate for her daughter to move on with her life and burned all of Boris'photos, poems, and love letter, thinking that this would help. It did not, and as Anna said, "It was the most miserable time of my life." Finally, convinced that she would never see Boris again, Anna reluctantly agreed to remarry,as did Boris. Yet they never forgot each other, their first true loves.