The purpose of creative nonfiction is to reflect on the lessons of experience and to develop empathy. I write creative nonfiction first and foremost, for myself, to slow down and analyze how my childhood experiences continue to affect my present relationships and behavior. Knowing I can reach out to readers and empathize with the traumas they endure, I want to publish my stories to give others hope and communion. As a child, I suffered physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse; grieved my parents' divorce; and dealt with early onset childhood depression - all of which I detail in these three essays. These issues were either caused or exacerbated by several of my family members' disrespect of my bodily autonomy and emotional boun...