Strands of the Past

Jessica was abused as a young person by almost all those closest to her; her parents, her brothers, and even the parish priest. Without hope, she tried all manners of self-harm, but with each failed attempt, looked to her eighteenth birthday as her only possible escape. Until then, she would survive, she would do what was needed to make it to the next moment, the next day, just like her sister had told her. The story follows her harrowing journey through hope, trauma, and despair as she strives for a better tomorrow and seek closure from the past,

Jessica was abused as a young person by almost all those closest to her; her parents, her brothers, and even the parish priest. Without hope, she tried all manners of self-harm, but with each failed attempt, looked to her eighteenth birthday as her only possible escape. Until then, she would survive, she would do what was needed to make it to the next moment, the next day, just like her sister had told her. At eighteen and through a chance encounter with a Sailor, she enlisted into the Navy, but soon found that although she had left her family and childhood town behind, physical escape was not the same as mental escape, and the scars of her childhood not so easily erased. The story follows her harrowing journey through hope, trauma, and despair as she strives for a better tomorrow and seek closure from the past, only to be beaten back time after time, until one day an elderly psychiatrist restores some of her humanity. With life on the rebound, she falls in love and marries, only to have her life take yet another disturbing turn as her past demons resurfaces with the birth of her son, once again challenging and overwhelming her mental stability, this time possibly forever.

Sweden De Matas can usually be found reading a book, and that book will more likely than not be a psychological thriller. Writing a novel was always on her bucket list, and eventually, with Strands of the Past, it became a reality. When not absorbed in the latest gripping page-turner, Sweden loves international travel and exploring the outdoors. She is a Veteran of the United States Armed Forces and lives with her family and pets.