Marty Smith was born in Accident, Maryland, and his whole life reflected it: he missed the game-winning free-throw junior year, got chicken pox twice in grade school, even lost his mother to cancer. To break this supposed curse, he fled Accident as soon as he graduated high school.<br><br>Now, ten years later, Marty must face his past when he's forced to care for his suddenly-immobile father. Marty knows his close-minded hometown hasn't changed, but seeing an old classmate named Colten Williams makes him wish things were different. The more time he spends with Colten, the more he wants to stay. Accident isn’t so bad when viewed through Colten’s eyes.<br><br>Or is it just the curse lulling him into a false sense of security before it pounces again?

The Accident Curse

“Well, good. I want to see you come home more often. I think Colten would like it too.”


“Dad, we can’t have a long-distance relationship. It wouldn’t work.”


“Then why are you even spending time with him now?”


“I like him. He likes me. Let’s leave it at that.”


Dad’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Marty, are you with him because you’re bored and he’s convenient? I didn’t raise you to treat your significant other like a plaything.”


I held up my hands. “No, you’ve got it wrong. I like him a lot, Dad. He’s so refreshing. He sees all the things I hate about here in such a different way.” I shook my head in wonder. “Sometimes, he makes me see it the way he does and it doesn’t seem so bad.”


“Then we still got a little more time to convince you. Maybe you’ll change your mind.” 16


Chapter 32