Hearing another survivor of assault talk about their experience, their feelings brings on two emotions. On one hand it’s utterly heartbreaking. I always wish I was the only person to ever be assaulted. I wish that somehow I could just take on every other person’s trauma, and nightmares. On the other hand, I feel less alone when I hear another survivor open up.

Recently, I read a book that mirrored my own feelings, experiences, and trauma. ‘Love Letters to Strangers & Suicide Notes to my Assailants’ by Emerald Grenade was an emotionally difficult read, and I could not recommend it more than I do. She writes about her pain, which could easily be my pain. She talks about the horrors she has survived, and I have similar horrors in my past. It was an emotional read, but a good one.

This book gets a blog post because it talks about rape, being drugged, feeling suicidal, self-harm, and God. This book is raw, and unfiltered, and worth every penny I spent on it. My blog is about many things, but I lean heavily on the very subjects Emerald writes about. I feel a sisterhood with her, and should you choose to join me in supporting her, you will too.

One thing I can tell you about those who survive so much, they need our financial support. Surviving constant abuse and assault takes a toll on the body and mind. We don’t come out unscathed. Chronic pain is a common side effect. Trouble sleeping, concentrating, remembering normal daily things, are side effects. Trauma is lifelong, and oftentimes hinders our ability to work. We have PTSD, we have anxiety, many of us don’t like to be touched, we don’t do well around people, especially large groups. It’s hard to function, especially in a typical work environment.

Emerald gets this post because, I want to support her, and spread the word so many more people buy her book. My hope is that she feels the outpour of love coming her way.