Hurt, Healing, and Hope

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The inter-woven monologues in this book and performance piece provide you with an intimate view into the journey of healing and thriving post-sexual assault. Melissa takes you with her to the early 2000s as a twenty-something undergraduate student and sexual assault survivor during which she was propelled into an immense amount of hurt, and much later, healing and hope. During that time, she began journaling to help make sense of her traumatic experiences.

Years later while studying for her master's degree, Melissa had the opportunity to organize her original journal entries. The highly personal written accounts were crafted into a three-act spoken word performance piece performed on campus at the end of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

This experience became a powerful catharsis and the first step in her mission to reclaim her voice, and in doing so, assist others on the same path by sharing her own personal struggle of trauma and recovery.

This critical work in the MeToo era is filled with original illustrations by Nicaraguan illustrator, Eduardo Jose Arias Cruz, reflection questions for survivors and their healing allies, a resource guide for further information, Melissa's thoughts and reflections on healing, and journal space for readers and vocalists to write and speak their own Hurt, Healing, and Hope.