The out of body girl: My fragmented life with dissociation | Health
This article contains accounts of sexual assault that some readers may find disturbing or triggering.
Confusion
Light shines through the half-opened blinds. Baby powder fills the air. The door is locked.
You see her down there on the bed. You see her eyes and mouth wide open. You see the big boy with one hand under her dress. She looks solid as cement. Hands straight at her sides. You tell her to move. You shout at her to kick, to scream. You yell at her to get up, get out of there. When she doesn’t move, you look outside. You are high in the air, just below the ceiling. You see your sister and brother playing on the backyard swings. You see the purple lilacs and the frog-shaped sandbox. You hear a door slam and then you are standing in front of a mirror.