My mom went through hell with my alcoholic dad in Central America. One day, I asked her why did she put up with the beatings and did not leave...her response was..."I had you and your brothers and sister to feed, and he is the only one bringing money home".....he eventually stopped the beatings when she came to America. He was an old school alcoholic (one of the worst disease on the planet), and they lived together in love for 54 years. He went first and she missed him everyday until she joined him. Hard to explain that older generation love, but it was real love.