298,120
total hearts received for Moments That Survive

Violet

I grew up as the only daughter of a single mother struggling with PTSD and depression. From a young age, I was forced to be the adult of the two of us. She would frequently brandish her gun, pointing it her head, telling me she would kill herself. Sometimes she left me alone for weeks at a time, leaving me to fend for myself, when I was as young as second grade. I remember one particularly bad episode where she held the gun to my head, reminding me how easy it would be for her to take me out of this world.

I live with that trauma every single day. Nothing will take it away from me.

Reacting shows support for gun violence survivors.

298,120