Characters

I opened my personal email account the other day thinking I would rapid-fire delete some news updates, ads, and frivolous forwards, and then move on with the important events of my day. I was wrong — seriously wrong. Staring at the screen, eyes blinking, tears streaming, the lump in my throat grew so big I thought I was going to choke. The message in front of me was both direct and profound: "Today, by the grace of God, is 90 days sober." As I read it, a thousand pictures flashed through my mind. From a distance I have watched him wander on this long, silent, solitary journey. How long has it been? Months? Years? More than I know is all I know. I’ve watched him win, and stumble, and struggle, and win again. I’ve counted the hours on his long dark nights. I’ve imagined the excruciating images and memories he has tried to snuff out. And I’ve wondered how many mornings he woke up feeling like a hopeless failure. He’s not. Especially not this morning. Not even slight...