The Hollow Mask

Who Am I? A Journey Through Turmoil to Self-Discovery

Throughout my life, the question "Who am I?" has been a relentless echo, haunting me. This story is not meant for those who have walked a straightforward path, shielded by the comforts of normalcy. My journey begins in the shadows of an outcast family, under the care of a neglectful mother and an alcoholic father, in a community that preferred to look away.

Poverty and parental indifference were just the backdrop to a more profound struggle, one involving my sexuality—a truth considered taboo and abominable by both the church and society during my youth. It was a battle I faced alone, an early testament to a resilience that was forced upon me.

Escaping to the military offered a promise of reinvention, a chance to bury my past and carve out a new future. Success and talent followed, but so did failure and tragedy, entwining my military career with both triumph and despair. Yet, the darkest battles were fought within against the psychological scars left unhealed by time.

As the past demands its due, I stand on the precipice of losing everything: a cherished relationship, a career built on sacrifice, and the very essence of who I've become. Facing the consequences of my actions, I'm confronted with the ultimate question—a question of faith, forgiveness, and the salvation of my soul.

Can one truly move beyond a tumultuous past to find peace and identity? This is not just my story but a journey of confronting the most profound questions of existence and seeking redemption in the face of insurmountable odds.