I was raped sophomore year. Almost strangled to death. My knife got me out, but his strangling hands stalked my waking and sleeping visions. My therapist released the  phantom hands, helped me. relearn how to breathe, to sleep, to be alone, to exist in public. I will always experience the fear that without warning, a strange man will try to kill me, that he will choke my “no’s” out of my throat. I reject feeling shame when I am blameless and the school ignores my trauma. My silence brings me no comfort. I will scream out loud.

Specs

Title: Hands Off

Date: 4/22/2024

Medium: Intaglio Print, Sumi-e ink painting, Thread

Scale: N/A