The "Mature" tag is because it includes a flashback panel to her prior, abusive circumstances. As a heads up, I won't be turning that into a full scene. I also do not plan on graphically depicting any abuse within the comic, only to explore the themes of abuse and how it is perpetuated by institutions and individuals. Also how trauma effects the relationships you develop later in life. Mine wasn't related to human trafficking, but my experiences changed my sense of safety. "Good things" became hard to fully enjoy without the looming sense something bad will happen if I relax. When the bad thing happen I feel like, "THERE it is" and tend to find some unhinged humor in it.

A lot of stories treat trauma as "backstory" or a plot point to explain why a character unlocked some ability or why they're moody or to add drama. But they often neglect to follow through on how things like flashbacks and trust issues can make it difficult to function normally in a society which leaves no room for recovery. If anything, I've learned healing is non-linear and doesn't usually look like "going back to normal" or "things being like before". We keep moving forward, hopefully escaping & learning how to prevent it from happening again in the process. Reading stories that address trauma has helped me a lot. I love seeing resilient, anti-fragile characters moving forward one step at a time, which is why I'm exploring these themes. Sorry for the heaviness, and if it's triggering for anyone.

Pure As A Lamb - Baby Bugs