The Sunflower Community

Grieving with my family across a geographic divide after the sudden loss of my sister

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A year ago today, on February 22nd, 2024, my sister was murdered. For many months afterward, I followed my mom’s lead and used the words, “She was the victim of a violent crime.” It’s a hard monster to name, and both statements are true.

Her killer still hasn’t been caught. San Antonio CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $5000 for anyone with a tip that can lead to a felony arrest in this crime.

As a cartoonist who frequently creates autobio comics, I didn’t know if I wanted to approach this life event or if it was my story to tell. As the seasons changed, I realized that I wanted to tackle the perspective of a far-flung family member who needed a lifeline back to those who most understood her grief.

Shop Talk

I used a gray-tone paper sample downloaded from

Kyle T Webster

, because it emphasizes the eventual blossoming of color. I wanted to get textural, so I played with quite a few different brushes and textures in my toolbox, many from True Grit.

Drawing the Times

Eva Hilohorst co-published this piece on her platform for graphic journalism, Drawing the Times. You may recall that The Ballad of Betty Rizzo originally found a home there and was subsequently chosen to be a part of the Reality in Comics exhibit at the Brussels Comic Art Museum. I truly appreciate the good work that this platform does in sharing comics about global and personal issues and am proud to be associated with it!

Soundtrack

I discovered this song when I flew down to Texas, and it stuck with me, consoling me. I hope that this story may also offer you some comfort or ideas for maintaining life-affirming contact if needed. 🌻