A strange woman attempts to befriend a stranger.

Hey,

I was just wonderingif you’re an artist?

In an effort to reclaim my identity this last year, I started working on some projects.

I’ve been struggling with severe depression,so it’s been a battle to resolvean identity crisis.

In a concerted effort to keep her guard up, an effort which will soon go out the window, the strange woman internally reflects:

In an effort to reclaim my body this last year, I started getting tattoos.

I’ve been struggling with maintaining stability as a person with Bipolar I Disorder, so it’s been a way for me to take control of my mind through taking control of my body.

I think it’d be cool to meet and talk about art and mental health things, let me know if you’d be into that?

Yeah I’d be into that, though I should put a disclaimer—I’m not actually dating right now. I’ve been intentionally single for over a year now.

Hey,

Honestly, I am 100% down for a friendship. In the last couple of months I’ve been more focused on building and and identifying mysupport system than dating anyway.

I was wondering if you wanted to see some real life ghostbusters do some ghostbusting tonight?

Hey,

You should listen to the chorus of this song and consider the most platonic of relationships with me.

Hey,

I don’t mean to have such a sad boy savior complex or to make myself out to be the manic pixie dream girl cliche, I just have a lot of empathy for people struggling with depression.

Hey,

Has the feeling tonight will not work out, but literally has nothing to lose so goes for one last stitch effort:

I was wondering if you wanted to meet over breakfast for dinner at Queen Shitty Dinersometime this week?

I can promise you mediocre coffee, eggs anyway you want them,and v good company.

Hey,

It is October. Last October the strange woman was fresh out of the psych ward with an abrasion on her neck. It was yet another attempt on her life by her mutated mind. But this time it wasn’t the natural chemical imbalance in her brain that put the rope around her neck, it was the the little white pill in her palm. Encouraging her, for months, to end it all.

It’s October, the first October in two years this strange woman has not spent laid up in a hospital bed. Two years prior she was found at a bus station with a mutated mind. Hearing voices and seeing signs, she walked in front of an oncoming bus, not with suicidal motives, but because she was under the impression that it was the path she was meant to follow.

This is kind of a lot to unpack. I don’t mean that to be mean.

I think you’re brave.

She realizes she’s come on way too strong (as always) and she sets out to apologize for it. Although, she wonders why she feels as though she must constantly apologize for herself.

Continues to laugh at

self as a way to

cover up internal sadness.

Realizes she’s come on way too strong (as always) and sets out to apologize for it.

Although continuously wonders why she constantly feels as though she must apologize for herself.

Over the last year, I’ve actively made a change inmyself to become morevulnerable and open.

I’ve met countless amazing peoplesince being releasedfrom the hospital

and even though I know every person is alone and literally nothing matters,

I also believe in the transformative power

of human relationships.

My top priority is taking care of my mental and emotional health.

My next priority is being the friend I should be to the people I care about, which is a select few.

I hold myself accountable to myself, my friends, and my family.

I’m not trying to convince you to let me into your life completely.

I just think having coffee and talking about mental health and art could be a positive experience for both of us.

I am trying my best.It can be difficult, but also—I love it.

Julie Stopper & Sofia MishOctober 2018