I was at work one day when she sent me a photo of a clown. It was not to be funny, but she said it looked like me. She was always saying bad things about how I dressed. I couldn’t forget it. I kept thinking, maybe other people think the same. It made me feel bad, like I was not good enough.
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

Clown

I was at work one day when she sent me a photo of a clown.

No message, just the image.

I stared at it for a moment, confused, thinking maybe it was some kind of joke. Then the next text came through.

“Looks like you.”

It wasn’t meant to be funny.

She was always saying bad things about how I dressed. Too bright, too mismatched, too much. If I wore something I liked, she’d sigh, shake her head, make a comment. “Seriously? You’re going out in that?” If I tried something different, she’d smirk. “Well, that’s a choice.”

But the clown… that one stuck.

I couldn’t forget it.

For the rest of the day, I kept thinking about it. Looking down at my clothes, wondering if other people thought the same.

Maybe they did.

Maybe I really did look ridiculous.

It made me feel bad, like I wasn’t good enough. Like no matter what I did, I’d always be the joke.

share this story:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email

More stories

UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

She had this diary, but it wasn’t for remembering fun stuff or happy times. Nope, it was all about the times I messed up. Every little mistake or thing I did wrong, she’d write it down like it was some kind of crime.

It felt like she never missed a chance to point out my mistakes, but when it came to the good stuff? Forget about it. It’s like it never even happened.

It made me feel like I couldn’t do anything right, always walking on eggshells around her.

Read More
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

He’d go days without speaking to me, always with the radio blaring. Whenever I tried to talk to him, he’d just crank up the volume, drowning out my voice.

He never said why, just completely ignored me like I didn’t even exist.

Read More
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

She would leave money on the table. It made me feel cheap that she would never give it to me. Said it was for the shopping. I had to make it stretch, get everything on her list, no excuses.

Sometimes, though, it wasn’t enough, and I’d have to beg or steal to get everything. Couldn’t go back without it all, it made her mad.

I tried to use it once to make a break for it, but she tracked me down. There was no escape.

Read More
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

I had this book where I wrote down everything she did, like my own secret diary. But she found it, and she burned it all. All my words, all my proof, gone.

I felt so small, like I couldn’t do anything to stop her or prove what she did.

Read More
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

He would put sleeping powder in my drink. I’d wake up confused, not knowing what happened or where I was. Sometimes, I’d also feel pain, you know, down there. Maybe it was a good thing in a way, because I wouldn’t remember what he did.

But it still left me feeling violated and scared.

Read More
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

I was out chilling with my mates when my phone rang. It was her, and she sounded really messed up, saying she’d hurt herself if I didn’t come back.

When I got back, I found her in the bathroom, knives lying there like some horror movie. It freaked me out big time.

After that, I felt like I had to stay close, like I was responsible for her. I couldn’t even hang out with my friends without worrying about what might happen when I wasn’t there.

Read More
Receive the latest news

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Exhibitions. Project Updates. Stories. Plus More.