The words and artworks in this anthology reflect the real experiences of the survivors who lived them. As a team made up of Safe Passage volunteers and staff—most of whom are survivors ourselves—we have done our best to approach this issue with care and sensitivity to provide a space that encourages honest expression of real struggles.

All of these stories of abuse deal with patterns of mental and emotional manipulation, as well as isolation. Different pieces in this anthology touch on the subjects of: sexual abuse and rape, child abuse, intergenerational trauma, physical abuse and assault, emotional abuse, coercive control, abuse of resources, difficult interactions with law enforcement, murder and death, mental health, and substance abuse.

We know this is not a complete list of all sensitive topics in this anthology, and we urge you to take care of yourself as you engage with this content. If you find yourself struggling with emotions and need to take a break, listen to your body, put down the anthology, do an activity that brings you comfort, and then decide if this is a good time to continue your reading.

We invite you to click on the grounding exercise below to support you in your reading.