When all is lost, be your own raft

Post date: 2019-07-19 03:30:32

My dear friend is about to leave their abuser. What songs, works of art and writing will aid them in this final push?

This is the closest they've ever been to escape; I think it may actually happen this time. Since we live far away from each other, I want to make them a digital care package that says "I am strong!" "I grieve..." and "Fuck you, I won't be treated this way." I envision a playlist they can loop when things are rough, plus a suite of links to searing images and short pieces of writing.

My friend lives for ugly/beautiful, nuanced aesthetic creations. Their immaculate taste is the one thing their abuser has never been able to touch. Right now they are ping-ponging between fear, heartbreak, a growing sense of power, a desire for safety, bittersweet memories, deep anger and fantasies of revenge. Art has always been their best tool for processing their feelings. I think being able to get lost in worlds where They Win! Despite Great Losses would be helpful right now. They are a wide reader and love photography, painting, queer fashion and electro/pop music.

(I am not worried that this care package will result in retaliatory action. We have a safe channel for passing along messages and even if it were compromised, physical violence has not been a primary tool of abuse so far. Can't rule it out, but it seems unlikely.)

Please click Here to read the full story.