Your Story Isn’t Over: The Meaning Behind My Butterfly Semicolon Sticker
When I first came across the statistic that autistic women are 13 times more likely to die by suicide than non-autistic women, it hit me like a wave I couldn’t shake off. It wasn’t just numbers on a page — it was people like me. I hit close to home because I've struggled myself with suicidal ideation. Art is a way I deal with this, so let's turn my pain into art.
Vera Jasmijn
Small business owner
Sat, 17 August 2025
My story
Hi, my name is Vera. I’m 22 now, but my struggle with suicidal thoughts began when I was only 13. Back then, my mind often wandered to dark places where I imagined myself simply disappearing. I didn’t truly want to die… but I also didn’t know how to keep living with the pain I carried every day. I didn't have my autism diagnosis yet, I wouldn't for another 7 years, so I didn't know why I felt like life wasn't made for me.
Sometimes, I even found myself fantasizing about bad things happening to me — thoughts that felt scary when spoken aloud. I’d stand by the road and secretly hope a car would swerve, not because I wanted it to end, but because I didn’t know how to keep going.
Now, almost 10 years later, I still face those thoughts daily. But over time, I’ve learned something important: talking about it helps. And creating art has given me a way to turn that pain into something meaningful.
That’s where this sticker design came from.
The artwork
For this artwork, I brought together two powerful symbols:
- The semicolon ( ; ) — a universal symbol for suicide prevention. It means your story isn’t over yet, even if you feel like putting down the pen.
- The butterfly — a personal symbol of hope and resilience. To me, it represents growth, transformation, and the reminder that even when life feels unbearably heavy, change is possible.
If you’ve ever felt weighed down by thoughts you couldn’t share, please know you’re not alone. This sticker is more than art — it’s a reminder of survival, of progress, of hope.
✨ Your story isn’t over yet.
And if this message resonates with you, I hope this piece can be a gentle reminder to hold on, to keep writing your story.
