Catherine Gildiner

Despite the fact that her father had disappeared and had made no contact with his children for four years, she was bonded to him. And in return for her saving the family, he gave her what little love he had. It would be a hard dynamic to disrupt, since people do almost anything for love. Whatever role we are loved for in our family, we will continue to enact it, despite the toll it takes.

Laura had just perfectly defined powerlessness, and powerlessness in a relationship is one of the main causes of stress or anxiety.

He said he was sorry, and then said he wanted to marry me. I told him, ‘Ed, why would I want a husband who lies, cheats, gives people diseases, and whose full-time job is dope dealing? A boyfriend like that was bad enough.’ Am I cleaning house or what? I’m shedding every asshole from my life.” She was proud of herself, and I was proud of her.