Kyle Tequila

But to many others, family is just another four-letter word filled with pain, grief, and discontent. Family is something you need to escape from, to shun, to forget. For my father, family meant something else entirely. On one hand, it was his wife who loved him, his two young boys who idolized him.

But to many others, family is just another four-letter word filled with pain, grief, and discontent. Family is something you need to escape from, to shun, to forget. For my father, family meant something else entirely. On one hand, it was his wife who loved him, his two young boys who idolized him.

It meant breaking the chain of an abusive childhood and starting over to create something new, something pure, something good. But on the other hand, family meant something far more sinister. His mafia family took him in when he was just 17, alone in the streets of Chicago. It gave him a job and a support system.

It meant breaking the chain of an abusive childhood and starting over to create something new, something pure, something good. But on the other hand, family meant something far more sinister. His mafia family took him in when he was just 17, alone in the streets of Chicago. It gave him a job and a support system.

It took away the anxieties of running away from home with no money and filled that emptiness with purpose, even if that purpose was criminal, even if it meant doing things you never imagined possible. Never in a million years. And once you do them, it's already too late. You're a prisoner to that family forever.

It took away the anxieties of running away from home with no money and filled that emptiness with purpose, even if that purpose was criminal, even if it meant doing things you never imagined possible. Never in a million years. And once you do them, it's already too late. You're a prisoner to that family forever.

And for the most part, he succeeded. We never knew about my father's second family. We were happy, and I always felt lucky to be a part of this family. In fact, I have almost exclusively positive memories from my first 18 years. a loving, blue-collar, suburban middle-class home with a Ford Explorer and a convertible Mustang occupying the driveway.

And for the most part, he succeeded. We never knew about my father's second family. We were happy, and I always felt lucky to be a part of this family. In fact, I have almost exclusively positive memories from my first 18 years. a loving, blue-collar, suburban middle-class home with a Ford Explorer and a convertible Mustang occupying the driveway.

My dad was a firefighter paramedic, and my mom left work to raise the kids. Both were supportive and enthusiastic parents, encouraging us to pursue our passions and follow our dreams. My younger brother Corey and I played just about every sport imaginable, so trips to play-it-again sports to buy and sell our gently used equipment were routine.

My dad was a firefighter paramedic, and my mom left work to raise the kids. Both were supportive and enthusiastic parents, encouraging us to pursue our passions and follow our dreams. My younger brother Corey and I played just about every sport imaginable, so trips to play-it-again sports to buy and sell our gently used equipment were routine.

We didn't have all the latest toys or clothes like many of the other kids in the neighborhood, but we never really wanted for anything.

We didn't have all the latest toys or clothes like many of the other kids in the neighborhood, but we never really wanted for anything.

running around the neighborhood like animals, laughing, building forts, playing tag, walking for miles along the railroad tracks like the kids in Stand By Me, minus the dead body, sleepovers, paintball battles, baseball games, travel hockey, girlfriends, making out in the basement, breakups, new friends, movie nights, punk shows. It was a good life, as good as any kid could ask for.

running around the neighborhood like animals, laughing, building forts, playing tag, walking for miles along the railroad tracks like the kids in Stand By Me, minus the dead body, sleepovers, paintball battles, baseball games, travel hockey, girlfriends, making out in the basement, breakups, new friends, movie nights, punk shows. It was a good life, as good as any kid could ask for.

That's my mom, Holly.

That's my mom, Holly.

We were lucky. At least, that's how it felt back then. But today, things couldn't be any more different. And we couldn't be any further apart. As soon as we could, my brother and I moved away from home. Me to the west coast and my brother to the east. My dad eventually moved away too, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

We were lucky. At least, that's how it felt back then. But today, things couldn't be any more different. And we couldn't be any further apart. As soon as we could, my brother and I moved away from home. Me to the west coast and my brother to the east. My dad eventually moved away too, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

And leaving my poor mom with nothing but sadness, anger, and unanswered questions.

And leaving my poor mom with nothing but sadness, anger, and unanswered questions.