"The Curse" by Andre Dubus

This is about someone very near and dear to my heart. She has always felt that she was "cursed" in her life when it came to finding love. It all started when she was she was 15 and met, whom she thought, was to be the love her of life. She ended up getting pregnant by the age of 16 and of course marriage was to follow. He was very controlling and would not allow her to work or go outside the house. He worked first shift and even though he wasn't home he had everyone watching out to make sure she didn't do anything wrong. Then came a terrible motorcycle accident that left her with a broken leg and him with brain damage among other debilitating injuries. That's when it all came to light, he confused all that he had done behind her back and that he had another child with someone else. She was willing to stand behind her man no matter what life was to bring but not after this. So she decided to leave with their now 3 year old child. She tried to start a new life and did her best and then came another loser, after another loser. She settled in with one loser who wouldn't keep a job and they produced another child. Of course that didn't work out so off to another loser. This time she was convinced that he was the one. She moved in with him immediately and with both of her children. She lived through many years of abuse both physically and mentally. Not only her but her children endured this pain. She was trapped and felt that she would never make it on her own and they continued to stay and live in torment for 13 years. After all the death treats and abuse she finally decided to take that step because she knew that if she didn't, she was going to die. She had almost given up on love until the day she truly met her "soul-mate." Only 1 year and 3 months after her longest relationship. When she thought she would never break this "curse" on her life and she did!