I stayed. I was lucky enough to see him reach sobriety. I was just about ready to throw in the towel (after about 22 years), and something happened which convinced him to turn his life around. I didn't stay because he got sober. I stayed because he is a really great person, whom I like very much. Sobriety was an unexpected bonus. Yes, I realize I just said "like." But I learned I had a habit of loving the worst of the worst over the years, and spent a lot of my young life "loving" guys I never really liked. Right now, it's important to me that I like him.