introduction

Content Warning

Child Abuse

Physical Abuse

Sexual Assault

Suicidal Ideation

Sensual Language

Religious Language

Expletives

If my material is overwhelming, 

Please be mindful of your well-being 

And practice self-care

“Your mind is fracturing from your body.”

For years, I have been trying to tell my story. The package did not come in the form of a biography, script, nor novel; it took a global pandemic to pour fuel over my poetry and ignite it into performed spoken word.

One night on July 3rd, 2021, after an online open mic, a few poets were having a chat, and I opened up about writing poetry about my childhood abuse and sexual assault in college. They bundled me with their words of comfort. 

Ironically, the next day, my college perpetrator who has stalked me for thirty-four years tried to get in touch with me, again. Somehow, this straw broke me. In August, I experienced 3-5 second blank outs. In September, I lost my ability to operate a car. By November, my condition escalated to me losing the control of my legs and hospitalization. I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder, my mind was separating from my body. 

Between The Lies is my catharsis: a raw collection of poems, a splice of my trauma journey, and my search for a pathway to healing.