Bottom to Renewal: A Love Story in Recovery

We met at a time when I was longing for connection and stability. He was kind, charming, and carried a certain brokenness I couldn’t quite name but deeply understood. In many ways, he felt familiar—like home.

But slowly, the cracks began to show. The drinking, which had seemed manageable at first, began creeping into every corner of our lives. I found myself walking on eggshells, trying to anticipate his moods, trying to keep everything from falling apart. I believed that if I just loved him hard enough—if I stayed strong enough—I could fix it. I could fix him.

But nothing I did was ever enough, and somewhere along the way, I started losing myself.

Eventually, I hit a breaking point. I was physically and emotionally exhausted, worn down by the chaos and confusion. I knew something had to change, and I turned toward recovery—not his, but mine. I began to face the painful truth that my own wellbeing mattered. That I couldn't save him, but I could begin to heal myself. That shift changed everything.

Not long after, I asked him to leave. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made, but it created the space we both desperately needed. He eventually chose to go to rehab—on his own terms. And that made all the difference. Recovery only works when it’s a choice, not a rescue.

We didn’t rush back into anything. We gave it time—time to heal, to grow, to rebuild trust. Slowly, with honesty, boundaries, and support, we found our way back to each other. We learned how to stand on our own two feet before trying to walk together again.

In 2021, we got married. Not as the same people who first fell in love, but as two people committed to living differently. Committed to recovery, to growth, to truth—and to choosing each other, one day at a time.