My desire to compose this work of art was very challenging, cathartic, and was fueled by my own desire to further heal myself. My sexual abuse started at an early age and then I was repeatedly sexually assaulted in the military. I couldn’t understand why this kept happening to me, but I started to understand why someone could commit suicide; it was the only thing I had control over. Thankfully I found the strength to move in a healthier direction by expressing myself through writing and drawing. I find there is a commonality of emotions that all victims of sexual assault experience whether it immediately follows the attack or over time surfaces as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

I feel compelled to lend my voice and art with anyone who feels alone and misunderstood. It has become vital to shed light on the lasting effects this has on every victim. As victims we must seek new ways to enable and empower each other to take back our lives and ourselves.

I hope my work speaks to someone and embraces them in some small way. I also hope that my drawing has an impact and understanding for someone involved in a relationship with someone who had suffered abuse. The road to recovery is a long and lonely one to self discovery, but it is a well-traveled one, worth exploring on the journey back to yourself.