José Díaz-Balart

Sana Ramo first met 39-year-old Anna Kanesevich at a local happy hour in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

It's almost as if you clicked almost immediately.

As they got to know each other, Sana learned that Ana was a successful businesswoman who had the freedom to go where she pleased.

And the place she really wanted to go was Madrid, Spain.

She was drawn to the way the city pulses with culture, history, and light, loved the passionate nature of its people.

The winding cobblestone streets, she believed, could be the stepping stones for a simpler, more authentic life.

So in December of 2023, Sana said goodbye to Ana as she packed up and moved from Fort Lauderdale to Madrid.

She checked in with Sana almost every day.

This is a happy time for her.

Elisa Romero was one of Ana's best friends in Madrid.

She let Ana live with her until she found her first home, a six-floor apartment in Salamanca, Madrid's most upscale neighborhood.

She felt safe and comfortable here.

Yes.

Ana needed that support.

She wasn't just leaving behind her successful businesses.

She was also separating from her husband of 13 years, David.

Ana promised it would be the adventure of a lifetime.

But less than a week before that trip, Sana got a text from her.

The cell signal would be spotty, Ana texted.

So she promised to call when she returned to Madrid.