This is part one of a two part series from Johnny and his daughter, Merrill. Be sure to listen to Johnny’s first to fully understand the family’s story.
When Merrill was 14 she started acting out. She wasn’t sure why, she just knew whatever she was doing made her feel better for a moment. The drinking, the drugs, the partying, all of it was covering up a darkness she was trying to shove away. Then a few years later she decided she’d had enough. She realized it wasn’t working. The darkness was still there. She reached out to someone she knew would keep her safe, her dad, and he knew exactly how to help.
*Note that this episode includes details about sexual abuse.