Mighty & Whole
In May of 2021 I drove 1,045 miles to New Mexico to confront Joe Lopez, the man who molested me when I was a little girl.
I drove to give myself the time and space to be consumed by all that had happened. I drove to allow my voice no restriction in volume as I recited my truth. It felt freeing and righteous.
I stayed in the town he lived in for 2 nights before confronting him. I used my time to just be there and see the things he saw. To see what I saw. It was there that I solidified what I would say to him.
He walked through my life and affected me. My purpose in entering his life was to do the same. I wanted to empty my plate onto his.
I drove to his work on a Thursday morning.
I drove there to tell him that I was tired of the weight and shame of knowing him. I was there to dismantle his fantasies of my compliance and define my silence. I drove there to tell him that every ounce of my soul was screaming NO whenever he was near. That every little girl he touched was always screaming no. I carried their voices with me.
My voice was strong, my words were clear, his denials didn’t derail me but fueled me. No longer was I the little girl he convinced to be silent. Never had I felt so mighty and whole.
I brought my camera, my witness to see what I saw and tell my story.
Mighty & Whole is password protected on my website.
PW: CM2021
