Post 11: Broken and Empty

You know, when you’re in a dark place, you find strange ways to hide your shame. For Mike, it was the woods behind his apartment—a patch of trees where he thought he could hide it. His recycle bin was becoming too obvious.

So he started tossing the bottles out there, vodka mostly. Some would break, but they were all empty. Out of sight, out of mind. It was a strange ritual, a quiet admission that he had a problem, but still couldn’t face it.

But one day, everything changed. Mike came back from the store, just another routine trip with more bottles to add to the pile later. But when he walked into the kitchen, he found several of those bottles he’d thrown into the woods… waiting for him on his kitchen table. Broken, sharp, and empty—just like he felt inside.

There was a note.

A single line, handwritten on a scrap of paper:

‘Dad, I love you, and I want to help you.’

Noah’s handwriting. His 21-year-old son, who had quietly watched his dad’s life fall apart, piece by piece, without a word of judgment.

Mike felt something break inside him. It was the first ray of light he’d felt in years, since the passing of Sarah. It wasn’t a lecture, or an ultimatum. Just love, and an offer to help.

That note was his turning point. Sometimes, rock bottom isn’t when you’re alone. Sometimes, it’s when someone you love shows you just how far you’ve fallen.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s the moment you start climbing out.

Current Progress

THE FIRST LAYER IS COMPLETE!

I am so excited to show the layers of how this will finish out. It’s hard to see in a static photo but I clearly show it in the video above.

Intimate feelings about the story

This is my favorite part of the story. Noah’s maturity, strength and grace are so apparent in the way he handled this situation I am in awe! I keep replaying this over and over in my mind - I see it play out in detail, almost like a dream but in color. I’ve tried to put myself in his shoes and not sure I could do it. At least not when I was 21.

The Bible - deep meaning here. The glow of the information inside the book just begging for you to open it. It still has hope and promise when closed.

Even though I am a non-believer, I feel that the overall messages of the Bible is imperative. Love and acceptance must come from within. Otherwise, the world is a very ugly place.

About the Painting

I have 2 weeks to finish and I think I will just BARELY make it. I have my best girl’s wedding this weekend and won’t be painting much. Forgive me if I don’t create another post until next week. That’s when my life will get back to normal and I can dig in without company and Maid of Honor responsibilities.

I really want to say THANK YOU to those of you that are here. You have no idea what it means to me that you are supporting this crazy idea and my journey. Without you, I would be talking to myself 🤣.

Feedback is always encouraged. I would love to hear from you.

Collect early - Gigantic rewards.

By being a paid subscriber here, you have the opportunity to collect this work before it’s complete at a price with a HUGE reward. I will progressively increase the price of this work as I tell the story and complete more of the painting. IF you collect early, the painting will still be completed and the story will still be told, but you get to call it “Yours”. You will be the ONLY person to call it “Yours”.

Each Sunday, the cost of collecting this work will increase.

I have scheduled this work to take me 7 weeks. I have divided the story into 7 weeks as well as the progressive pricing. Collect early, save BIG!