Female Hardship Survivor Group

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“Hello everyone”, said the meeting counselor, “Welcome to the Female Hardship Survival Group”. She was dressed in what appeared to be a very hippie like outfit. Her t-shirt had a psychedelic pattern on it, her bell bottoms looked like they were straight out of the 60’s, and her hair was long with a headband made to look like flowers keeping it out of her eyes. Looking around the room there were paintings of relaxing landscapes, the walls were painted a soft yellow, and the windows in the room let in enough midday sunlight to make the room feel warm. Outside the window trees were rustling in the wind. “I would like you all to go around and introduce yourselves, and then each of you will have the opportunity to tell your story”, after a pause the counselor reminded them that they are all free of judgment here. In the room sat Medea, Sita, Scheherazade, Penelope, among many other women. Medea appeared distraught, even a little ashamed. Sita was dressed in traditional clothing, with a cheerful smile on her face. The girl looking exhausted and well-dressed was Scheherazade; you could tell she had been awake for many countless nights in a row. Penelope looked like a goddess, dressed in classical Greek style clothing with her hair cascading around her. After the introductions were over, the meeting got into the important matters, the sharing of hardships. “Who would like to go first?” asked the counselor. “I would be more than happy to go first!” said Scheherazade, looking a little too excited to share her hardship. “Can I just start by saying how GORGEOUS it is outside!” said Scherazade. “I was a very young woman when I first volunteered to spend the night with the King. I was well versed and read in many stories. My Father was hig... ... middle of paper ... ... after day, it was a wonder I survived without my husband. The suitors began to harass me once they realized I had no intention of ever picking one of them. My son left on a quest and returned upon which after a time a fight broke out. The suitors pushed even harder for me to choose one of them to marry. I devised this wonderful plan saying whoever could string Odysseus’s great bow and fire an arrow through 12 axes I would marry. A beggar disguised as no other than my husband was able to perform the task I purposed. Unfortunately they turned on all the suitors while I slept, I awoke to find my husband was alive and well. We were reunited once again. I am still struggling with how the suitors treated me while my husband was gone. While my loyalty was not questioned by the people of the Kingdom, the abuse I suffered at the hand of the suitors was tragic” said Penelope

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