It's fresher's week at Oxford University.
K is sexually assaulted by another student in her first week.
What will she do now? Can she go on living?
After being violated in her first week, K is diagnosed with depression as a student at Oxford and her whole world changes. She is a failure for the first time. She spends her day ruminating over her entire life, from the death of her mother to the maltreatment of her disabled uncle, and how both their lives could have been better. She feels stupid, lost and ashamed. She feels fat and ugly and stops eating. And she feels constantly tired and alone. More so because the people around her single her out for being different. They even abuse her.
After all, she is a small, young, ethnic, motherless girl. What power does she really have?
Whilst her family have arguments amongst themselves and leave her to battle her demons alone, she cannot see the point of her existence. And self-harm and a very close shave with death soon follow.
But then, K realises something.
Life, love, laughter, happiness. They are still achievable. And she will not give up fighting until she finds them. It's the system that has failed her, that has failed those she loves, and she is determined to make sure it does not fail another living soul. She remembers the immortal words of her closest friend and ally, goes forward with fire in her heart, and refuses to look back.
She knows that to survive, she must keep her head down and her chin up. And she must never ever give up.
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Jagged on the Inside is a powerful semi-autobiographical book recounting the author's experiences of parental loss, turbulent family relationships, and betrayal from those she once trusted most. Whilst studying at Oxford, she suffers assault in her first week, spiralling her into a deep depression from which she nearly does not recover. Years later, in the workplace, she is again plagued by sexism and abuse. As a moving narrative of her struggles and ultimate triumph, Kiri talks about the mountains she climbs to overcome her darker moods and why it is worth it if it means finding hope, love and joy in being alive.
Kiri graduated from the University of Oxford in 2013 and has since been working as an adviser to mental health services in the UK. She lives in London with her partner. Jagged on the Inside is Kiri's first novel.
In courageously sharing her story with you, Kiri dreams that you too may find light in the darkness.
