The Voodoo Curse: How a High School Breakup Haunted Me for 10 Years
This is the story of how a voodoo girl cursed me.
When I was a junior in high school, I transferred to a new school and set out to make friends the best way I knew how. I was an anime and gamer kid—not the mainstream type, but someone who loved going to conventions and expressing myself in those ways. Despite that, I never clicked with the anime or gaming cliques, so I mostly kept to myself.
That changed when I met a girl we'll call Ashley. For the record, that’s not her real name, but it’s what we’ll use here. Ashley was shy, cute, and into anime, with an adorable personality. She was also Latina, which at the time, was my "swimming pool of choice."
We hit it off right away. I’ve always been a respectful and thoughtful guy—flowers, opening doors, random acts of kindness—the whole nine yards. Even at 16, I treated Ashley with love and care.
The Parents
The main challenge in our relationship was Ashley's mom. Her dad? He was great. He thought I was a good guy and even helped sneak Ashley out so we could go on dates. He’d drive her to the movies, dinners, the park, and even to my house. Her mom, on the other hand, wasn’t a fan.
Let me paint a picture: her mom was the type of person who’d sit in a pitch-dark living room, with the TV off, laughing as if she was watching a comedy. I saw it myself, and it was unsettling. One day, I overheard her say in Spanish, “My daughter will never be with a Black man.” That stung. While Ashley’s dad apologized and tried to smooth things over, the tension was palpable.
The Build-A-Bear Breakup
After a few months of dating, things between us were sweet but complicated. Ashley was affectionate but modest—she wasn’t ready for a kiss, even after months together. I respected that completely.
Fast forward to what I believe was our anniversary. I decided to get her a special gift: a Build-A-Bear designed to look like me. People often said I resembled a big, cuddly bear, so I thought it was perfect. As I picked out the bear, I had already made up my mind to break up with her. Why? Her mom’s hostility, the drama, and the emotional toll were too much for me at 16.
That Saturday, Ashley’s dad was supposed to sneak her out so we could celebrate, but her mom found out and ruined the plans. Ashley was devastated. Still, I went through with my plan. I left the bear—my parting gift—on her porch, with a note apologizing for the situation.
The Breakup and the Curse
The next day, Ashley messaged me on AOL Instant Messenger, saying how much she loved the bear and how happy it made her. That same day, I broke up with her. Yes, I broke up with her right after she told me she loved me. I knew it made me the bad guy, but I couldn’t deal with the chaos anymore.
We didn’t talk for weeks. When we finally reconnected, she told me she named the bear Stanley. But our conversations felt off. Then, one day, Ashley sent me a long message:
She didn’t want to talk to me anymore.
I was the villain in her story now.
And, oh yeah, she killed Stanley.
Ashley sent me a picture of the bear with pins sticking out of it—its head cut off. She said she performed a voodoo curse on me so I would never find love for 10 years.
Did the Curse Work?
For the next decade, I couldn’t shake her words. Whether it was the curse or a self-fulfilling prophecy, I had two long, unsuccessful relationships during that time. Nothing seemed to work. Deep down, I believed her curse had some power over me.
Looking back, I’m still unsure if Ashley or her mom dabbled in voodoo, but those 10 years taught me something: words and beliefs can be powerful. Whether the curse was real or not, it shaped my mindset and, in many ways, my life.
So, to anyone out there:
Be careful who you date.
Don’t underestimate someone’s belief system.
And maybe, just maybe, think twice before gifting a Build-A-Bear during a breakup.
What do you think? Was the curse real, or was I just in my head? Let me know your thoughts!
Do something nice for someone today! Tell ‘em Dex sent you. ❤️❤️❤️