Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
One Hell of a Year
My last year of high school was hell. I'd sugarcoat it, but that's exactly what it was. It is a story I tell in real life all the time in that joking way that makes people think you are fine. However, I think maybe writing it out, telling my truth as I saw it, may help me move on from that horrible year. You see, dear reader, that year is at the top of the list of things I have never truly gotten over. So many things I have yet to forgive myself for happened that year, and so many things I have yet to forgive others for.
By Jody-Lynne Belbin8 years ago in Viva
Stop Perpetuating Rape Culture
I think back to when I was younger and I remember a phrase a teacher would always tell me in school, “Calladita, te ves más bonita.” Literally translated to, “You look prettier when you shut up.” Even more disturbing than the meaning of the phrase is when she would say it to me. Every time I tried to tell her about the times this boy in my class would hit me or throw things at me, she would repeat it or would tell me that was his way of showing affection. I eventually left that school but never really thought about telling anyone else because it seemed normal that a boy would do that.
By Rossana Sandoval8 years ago in Viva
Nightmare on Narc Street!
I have been the victim of narcissistic abuse my whole life in various forms: parent, partner, and even friends! This is the story of how I got played by an instrumentalist of the highest order and my seemingly amazing ability to attract such beasts!
By Sarah Warrington8 years ago in Viva
Political...Lesbianism?
Hold up and onto your pantyhose, because this has blown away mine. Rumour has it women are hardwired to be gay...and heterosexuality is a choice. And all feminists or those who are serious about being proclaimed feminists should defy the penis God and pray to the vagina God ONLY. Out of choice.
By Maura Dudas8 years ago in Viva
Abduction Survivor
When I was a moody teenager, about 14 years old, I listened to Green Day and Nirvana on my Walkman every day on the way home from school. Being a freshman is such a confusing, yet exciting time. Fresh new hormones pumping through your body as you go through adolescence, and a fresh new crush every week. I was just beginning to cozy into a fun group of friends, and found my classes to be such a welcome change from middle school, I was actually interested in what was being taught!
By Amber Bastedo8 years ago in Viva
The One Who Abused...
Every story begins with happy, rejoicing moments. With relationships, you start something new thinking this is the best thing to ever happen, thinking you know your partner, but in reality, every human being has their demons. Not knowing who your partner fully or truly is can be dangerous. When relationships start, it seems like it is a honeymoon phase for the first couple of months, meaning that everything seems perfect and nothing bad is ever going to happen to either of you. Until everything comes crashing down all at once.
By Samie Olson8 years ago in Viva
She is Art
For the longest time, I've absolutely hated my body. Sometimes I'd like my boobs, or my shoulders, my lips... but that didn't always matter. There was always cellulite, dimples, I was BIG--there was no way I could be called sexy or even beautiful. I hid in oversized hoodies and heavily relied on the color black and black leggings.
By The Painted Hoodie8 years ago in Viva
Overcoming Domestic Violence
Dealing with domestic violence for over a decade without any support system is one of the hardest things in life I've ever had to go through. I have dealt with mental, verbal and physical abuse, which has resulted in me being diagnosed with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). I have also suffered with depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember along with extremely low self esteem. I have only been in two relationships and to both men I was married to and had children with. I married my first husband when I was only 18 years old; we had two children and he was five years older than me. I can't remember exactly when the abuse started, but I remember telling my father about the abuse and his response was, "Well, what did you do to make him put his hands on you?" Now mind you, my father was never there for me and even to this day I don't have a relationship with him. Why I expected him to protect me, especially with him being an absentee father is beyond me, but I will never forget the way that statement made me feel. A few years later I finally got the nerve to leave my first husband. The final straw was finding out he had cheated on me with a married woman and he had been using cocaine. In the December of that same year, I was offered a job in North Carolina. It was the fresh start that I needed, but a part of me still wanted my family back. I called him and invited him to come to with me so we could try to work things out and he agreed. We had been in North Carolina for two weeks and he ended up beating me up in front of our children, blacked my eye and left me with a huge knot on my head.
By Lynette Sheree8 years ago in Viva
Do You Have the Mom Body?
What exactly is the "mom body"? Well, it’s pretty simple really: it’s the body almost any woman has after pregnancy. It’s the stretch marks. It’s a little or maybe a lot of extra around the middle. It’s the super stretched out skin. Maybe it’s the continuation to look pregnant even though your last child was born years ago. It’s the body that brought the miracle of life into the world, and, for a lot of us, it’s also the body that’s completely different from when we were younger. It’s a body that has possibly caused us to lose our self-confidence.
By Amanda Brock8 years ago in Viva
