Goodbye Letter

For my Rehab, we are required to write a "Goodbye Letter" to alcohol. Here's mine: Dear Alcohol, I’d like to say it pains me to write this, but it doesn’t. I know I’m supposed to say things between us were good once—and while I think they were way, way back when—it’s been so long I’m not completely sure that memory is real or just something I made up. From my side, I gave up everything I could to keep our relationship going. You needed me to lie to the people who loved me? Done! You wanted me to lose my dignity and self-respect? OK! You asked for all of my spare time, and I turned it over willingly. At first you wanted me to take headaches and a foul disposition the morning after we were together. Later, you wanted my brain for the next 3 days after I spent the evening with you. No problem for me! For you I endangered myself, my children, my family, my job, and sacrificed all of my self respect. I was like Silverstein’s Giving Tree for you. I gave up everything until only a stump was left. All this, and what did you give me? Nothing. Nothing but whispered remembrances of far off and long forgotten happy beer buzzes and warm feelings that never seemed to come around. When these failed to appear, you always said one more would do it, then one more after that, and one more again. But nothing ever made that happy buzzy feeling I think I knew years and years ago return. You lied to me and said you’d make me social, brave, calm, happy and creative. You just made me dumb, slow, angry and lonely. There’s nothing here for me now. Honestly, there’s been nothing here for me for years, and I’m sure you’ve always known that because our relationship has always been only about you. I’m moving on.