Melo.

Twenty-Four

There was a time I wore a smile
That never reached my soul.
I learned to laugh with broken lungs,
Pretending I was whole.

The day my father left this earth,
A silence found my name.
Then friends I loved became memories,
And nothing stayed the same.

I searched for peace in bottles first,
Then anything that numbed.
I’d trade tomorrow for one night
Where all the hurt went dumb.

The alcohol became my shield,
The darkness, my disguise.
I buried grief beneath mistakes
And looked away from my own eyes.

I hurt the people closest to me,
The ones who chose to stay.
I spoke with anger, acted selfishly,
And pushed their love away.

To those who stood beside me still,
Who called me on my lies,
Who wouldn’t let me lose myself
Or let excuses rise—

Thank you for the strength you showed
When I had none to give.
For holding me accountable,
And teaching me to live.

I’m sorry for the pain I caused,
For every broken trust.
For every moment I became
Someone I wasn’t meant to become.

The past is written, ink won’t fade,
But I can choose what’s next.
Not every chapter has to end
The way the last one left.

So here’s to twenty-five—
Not just another year,
But a doorway to a different life,
Built on truth instead of fear.

I’ll carry Dad within my heart,
My friends within my soul.
Not as anchors pulling me beneath,
But as stars that make me whole.

I won’t erase the man I’ve been;
He helped me understand
That healing isn’t running away—
It’s learning how to stand.

Today I choose to face the pain,
To let the light begin.
Twenty-five is not my ending.

It’s where I finally begin.