She Can See Me Clearly

The sun had barely risen, casting soft, muted rays of light through the barely open curtains of our small living room. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, providing some small comfort as I sat on the worn-out sofa, still reeling from the night before. The exhaustion of juggling both the Bud and Roach Show and my financial troubles had worn me down, pushing me further into the grip of alcoholism. I had hardly slept at all, my mind buzzing with worry, my heart weighed down by the unrelenting pressure. Even in these early hours, my hands trembled slightly, eager for the numbing release of a cold beer to calm the cacophony in my head. I stared blankly at the coffee mug I held, watching the steam rise and dissipate like the fleeting hope that seemed to elude me with every passing day. It was in that vulnerable moment that my beautiful daughter Alenna toddled into the living room. Her eyes, filled with the curiosity and wonder of childhood, sparkled as she clutched Brenna’s phone in her small, chubby hands. She fumbled with the device, her little fingers somehow managing to open the camera app. I could barely muster a smile as she held the phone up, aiming it at me. The shutter clicked, and I heard the familiar sound of the photo being captured. It was a seemingly innocent action, the random musings of a curious child. But in that moment, my world shifted. It was as if a mirror had been thrust before me, forcing me to confront the harsh reality of my existence. My daughter, my beautiful little girl, could see me for who I truly was. She saw a father consumed by darkness, drowning in his own sorrow and self-loathing. I could no longer shield her from the truth of what I had become. The weight of this realization bore down on me, bringing with it a torrent of emotions. Shame, guilt, and an overwhelming sense of responsibility welled up within me, threatening to suffocate me under their crushing pressure. As Alenna gazed at me, eyes wide and filled with innocence, I knew I needed to find a way out of the abyss that had consumed me. I had to fight through the darkness, to conquer my demons and reclaim my life. Not just for myself, but for my family, for the people who believed in me, and for the dreams that still lingered within my battered soul.