My name is Melissa B. Lombardo, Author, Advocate and even more importantly mother, daughter, friend and family member. Over the past few years I have worked on a manuscript surrounding my experiences healing post sexual assault. I have been thinking about Hurt, Healing and Hope, especially thriving and healing.  Recently I woke from a powerful dream needing to write the following phrase, “We have it, it’s hidden, it’s safe, I know, we all have the power within”.  I can only imagine that my own inner power prompted me to write just as I know healing for me has taken on many forms over even many more years. It is my hope through my upcoming publication that we may continue to break silence surrounding the topic of Sexual Violence.