This wonderfully written story by Sandra Cisneros details the life of Cleofilas, the main character. Cleofilas deals with several problems during her childhood and continuing on into her marriage. The story never describes any significant relationship with her mother and the negative effects of this can be clearly seen throughout Cisneros" piece of work. Cleofilas instead turns to the television, particularly the telenovelas, for a female role model in her life. After Cleofilas was married, her husband became terribly abusive towards her. Because Cleofilas had no real female role model in her life, she did not know any better and allowed herself to remain in an abusive relationship.

             Cleofilas was an only child and as a little girl, did normal things such as going to the movies, playing with friends, and visiting the local soda fountain. Like most young girls in Mexico, Cleofilas enjoyed watching telenovelas. She would frequently visit "a girlfriends house to watch the latest telenovela episode and try to copy the way the women comb their hair, wear their makeup" (44). The telenovelas depicted the perfect life to live. The men and women were all very beautiful and lived rich, comfortable lives.

             The telenovelas were Cleofilas" guide for learning about love. She fantasized of finding her true love, "the great love of one"s life" (44), just like the beautiful models always did. Although often in the telenovelas, hearts were broken and betrayal was common. Cleofilas accepted that love was not always perfect but still believed, "to suffer for love is good. The pain all sweet somehow. In the end." (45).

             As Cisneros" story progresses, she explains that Cleofilas and her husband were very much in love. Cleofilas never thought that her new husband, the man she would spend the rest of her life with, would ever strike at her. .

             "She had always said she would strike back if a man, any man, were to strike her.