In 2023, Bulgaria witnessed a significant rise in public outcry over domestic violence, spurred by a high-profile case involving an 18-year-old woman who suffered severe injuries from her partner—a case that exposed the inadequacies in the legal system’s handling of such incidents. In response to mass protests demanding stronger protections for victims, the Bulgarian National Assembly introduced amendments to the Criminal Code and the Law on Protection Against Domestic Violence, expanding the definition of domestic violence to include intimate relationships beyond marriage, thereby offering improved protection for victims who were previously excluded under older legal frameworks.
Despite these advancements, challenges persist, including the need for more comprehensive preventive measures and greater inclusivity for marginalized groups, such as same-sex couples. Moving forward, ongoing attention to implementation and societal change is essential for the effective enforcement of these laws.
But public attention is fickle, and the need for raising awareness is greater than ever. Survivors of domestic violence often remain unheard—silenced by shame or dismissed due to lingering discriminatory attitudes. The poems “The Night I Thought I Would Be Killed by Morning” and “Passersby” are Gabriela Manolova’s attempt to give voice to a fraction of these untold stories. Focusing on the aftermath of abuse, her work explores the lasting trauma faced by those fortunate enough to make it out alive, as well as the hope for healing and a fresh start.
Below are two short films featuring a voice-over reading of each poem, along with the two poems in separate text form:
The Night I Thought I Would Be Killed by Morning
Passersby
Poetry: Gabriela Manolova
Acting and voice: Tsveta Dimova
Direction and edit: Teodor Dokov
Cinematography: Boris Kalaidjiev
Producer: Zlatina Teneva
The project is part of the subtheme Healing Narratives - Poetry, Mental Health and Collective Trauma.
Author
Gabriela Manolova
A lifelong dreamer and lover of language, Gabriela Manolova (Sofia, Bulgaria) began writing in childhood as a way to process thoughts and emotions, but has only recently embarked on the journey of poetic expression. Her debut year, 2024, marks the publication of her poems “sounds like home” and “For Longing’s Sake” in Synkroniciti Magazine, editor Katherine McDaniel (Vol. 6, No. 3, themed “Belonging,” and Vol. 6, No. 4, themed “Haunting”). With a background in linguistics, Gabriela currently works as an administrative translator between Norwegian, English, and Bulgarian. She also provides developmental editing for unpublished novels across various genres by authors from the USA and England, while exploring her own novel drafts.
