I used to think rock bottom had a basement. Turns out, it’s got a skylight.

My “come to Jesus” moment was just me, a pen, and a piece of paper at 3 am, vodka breath fogging up the mirror as I stared at a stranger wearing my face.

That letter? It wasn’t poetry. It was a fucking autopsy report of everything alcohol had killed in me. Dreams. Relationships. About 15 kilos of self-respect. I wrote until my hand cramped, until the paper was soggy with tears and spilled gin. It was the most honest thing I’d done in years.

Quitting wasn’t pretty. My body threw a tantrum like a toddler denied candy. But slowly, the fog lifted. Colors got brighter. Food tasted like… well, food. And holy shit, mornings? Turns out they’re not just for regretting the night before.

The weight started melting off, partly because I wasn’t drinking my calories, but mostly because I rediscovered this strange thing called “moving.” Who knew exercise could give you a high without the hangover?

But the real kicker? People started looking at me different. Like, actually in the eye. My boss stopped wincing when I walked in. My sister called just to chat, not to bail me out. I even started dating again – turns out “sober and employed” is a surprisingly effective Tinder bio.

The marathon, though? That was my middle finger to every bottle that ever owned me. Each kilometer was a “fuck you” to hangovers, to blackouts, to wasted potential. Crossing that finish line, I wasn’t just tired and sweaty. I was free.

Don’t get me wrong, some days still suck. Sobriety doesn’t magically fix everything. But now? I’ve got the clarity to deal with life’s shit without drowning in it (or a bottle of Merlot).

That letter I wrote? It’s framed now. A reminder of the person I almost lost, and the one I’m still becoming. Every sober sunrise is another line in a story I’m finally awake enough to write.

So yeah, I broke up with booze via drunk love letter. If you’re out there, thinking you’re too far gone, remember this: Sometimes, the most important conversation you’ll ever have is with yourself. And trust me, it’s way better sober.