A Friend Named Alcohol

I came into the world one day; a precious baby girl
My parents had high hopes for me; I seemed to be their world
But life, it had made different plans; horrors yet unknown
My fate would lie inside of me to wait till I was grown.

My childhood, it was very hard; my Mom was always mad
My father didn't spend much time; I barely seen my Dad
He worked to support his family and was rarely ever home
As when he finished dinner; out to the streets he'd roam.

I remember time and time again, I'd cower in the night
My father, he was drunk again and he and Mom would fight
That kind of hell; it finally stopped and all came to an end
But the damage had been done; my parents weren't even friends.

They chose to stay together, if only for the kids
But rarely spoke two words at all; silence was how I lived
One extreme to another; from yelling to barely there
I think they hated each other; a sign of love was rare.

My self esteem; it faltered and sadness grew and grew
I felt despair and loneliness; I didn't know what to do
And then it came; the final straw that broke the camel's back
The day before I turned eighteen, my brother's life turned black.

He died while fishing in a boat; we also lost his friend
They were the best of buddies; together till the end
Something in me died that day; the ball began to roll
I felt my life was over; the Lord had took my soul.

I had a friend to turn to; his name was Alcohol
When we started hanging out, we really had a ball
But things slowly began to change; our friendship had turned sour
Alcohol really wasn't my friend; he took away my power.

He made me do horrendous things and act like such a fool
In a life of desperation, I thought he made me cool
He had, in fact, destroyed my thoughts, my hopes and self esteem
I never knew what I had done; it all seemed like a dream.

I dated men I hardly knew and blacked out every night
I threw up, passed out and shamed myself; my drunkenness quite the sight
For fifteen years, I played this game; a roller coaster ride
I didn't know where else to turn; I felt so dead inside.

But clouds are lined with silver and hearts are trimmed in gold
And time can heal the greatest wounds; that's what I have been told
So when your life seems hopeless and dreams seem far away
Reach out to those who love you most; there is a better day.

A day of love and family and special moments shared
A day of making memories; a day of not being scared
A day with friends who truly care and hate to see you fall
A friend who's love is pure and true and not named Alcohol.