ESSAY June 2025 - In Sylvia’s Own Words - Sylvia J., Oklahoma, USA

by Sylvia J. (at six years SA sober) with the original 1989 title

Reprinted in Member Stories 2007, pages 120-123 with the title “The Only Way I Knew”

When I was a little girl, about five years old, I remember sitting on my grandfather’s lap and combing his hair. It gave me such happy, good feelings. My grandfather died when I was seven. From that time on, I had trouble in school. I couldn’t concentrate, I would daydream, and I had headaches. I was a lonely child after I lost that special relationship. I didn’t know how to get love like that from anyone else. So, I comforted myself in my fantasies where I was a fairy princess. My Prince Charming would come and carry me off. We would live in the land of happiness forever doing wonderful deeds and sharing our love.