Daddy Had to Say Goodbye

A Story of Hope

Daddy Had to Say Goodbye is based on a true life story of how a severely broken man hid his mental illness. Good looks, poise, humor, and engaging grace covered his many scars. He struggled to find the will to live by trying to save other people's lives but developed PTSD from his work as a paramedic and later as a police officer.

Conjoined with his lifelong depression and alcoholism, Clinton Flanagan faced the hard end.

The taste of gun oil from his duty weapon brought him out of alcohol-induced blackout. It was "Eat a bullet and die now or get my life right". He knew what he had to do but feared that he didn't have the courage to live sober and face his truths. Gutting himself of his false pride and ego was a tall order. Taking responsibility and not blaming others would be all but impossible. Thinking that the pain of living had to be worse than the pain of dying was a constant. Surrender was his only hope.

©2015 David J. Brown (P)2023 David J. Brown