27 Drafts
by Simone Engelen
“In 2006, during a high school exchange year in the U.S., I was sexually abused by two individuals.
In the years that followed, I tried to block out all memories about this experience, which led me to develop coping mechanisms such as addiction and control issues; and deeply influenced how I interact with others and how I perceive intimacy.
Finally, in 2022, I decided to go back to the U.S. with my mom to find closure. It became a road trip through time, in which I used my camera as a filter to create the distance I needed to engage in conversations long avoided.
27 drafts refers to the number of attempts I have made to put the impact of this assault into words that shaped the most formative years of my life.”
