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Editor's note: This story is part of "The Colors of Abuse," in which Women's Times will feature one shirt from the Clothesline Project weekly through Nov. 15 to increase awareness of the problem of domestic violence in Blount County. The first of the series ran Oct. 11.

Six shirts designed by one woman for the Clothesline Project are poignant reminders that domestic violence in all its ugliness affects one person in so many ways. Each color -- yellow, red, green, blue, white -- represents a different hell.

Monica Aistrop, a credentialed domestic violence advocate for the Blount County District Attorney's Office, helped start Blount County's Clothesline Project in 1997. Survivors of domestic violence create the shirts that tell their stories, then the shirts are displayed for the community to view. These six shirts by an anonymous donor have been on the clothesline since its beginning.

"They tell a very powerful story if all put together," Aistrop said. "The artwork on these shirts is unreal. Just by looking at these shirts you can tell this person has really had a hard life and must be a very strong individual to tell her story in such detail and artistry. No, I do not know who she is. Yes, I would love to meet her and know who she is just so I could give her a hug and tell her how many lives her shirts have touched."

Love hurts

The yellow shirt represents women who have been battered or assaulted. On the front are the words, "Bad Love" in all its ugly forms: excuses, guilt, isolation, coercion, control, jealousy, broken promises, possessiveness, shame, fear and the question, "'til death us do part?" On the back is a warning: "Love Hurts? It's not supposed to! GET OUT before it's too late."

Green or blue shirts represent women survivors of incest or child sexual abuse.

"The green one says, 'Teach a lesson, teach it well, you must never tell, it's your choice here or here, I'm just doing what you decide; out on a limb; shame; lies; manipulation; threats; cognitive dissonance; denial; fear; betrayal; three strikes,'" Aistrop read from the shirt. "The blue one -- 'waiting for daddy; you know I love you baby this is what people in love do, tell me you want it baby, don't you love your daddy anymore?' 'mommy my xxx hurts; how cute she calls it xxx; ha ha;' she didn't listen; but I will -- will you?"

The red shirt signifies the woman was raped or sexually assaulted. The words on this shirt: "It can happen to you; falling sideways into nothing; I do not hear or speak, I do not even see for just to breathe and be alive takes all my energy; The clumsy hands tear at her clothes, so more bare skin will show, carelessly they teach her things she does not wish to know; when his thirst is satisfied might he just let her go? or will her terror end with death. She has no way to know; (rape is not sex)."

White for remembrance

White shirts are made by loved ones in memory of a woman who has died by violence. Aistrop said one of the two white shirts created by the anonymous woman has a faceless baby angel drawn on it.

"It says, 'they left no photo, no name but I remember you; baby sister, your life was cut short; how I miss you; I had a baby sister but she died; the family secret; 'kids exaggerate;' mommy chased daddy with a butcher knife; see how tough your mother is she can do what must be done, she stands there with bloody hands and a smile on her face asking if you wouldn't like something to eat; I remember MAMA.'"

The words on the second white shirt: "Rest in Peace Anna Belle S."

Aistrop said the artist had drawn a detailed kitchen scene with a child hiding under the table and an older grandmotherly woman and a man saying, "Tell me now! Where's the baby? Thank you Anna Belle for drying my tears, taking pain for me, teaching me how to hide, quickly and quietly, suffering with silent strength, surviving the only way you knew."

The Clothesline Project serves as a way to bear witness to the survivors of domestic violence and to raise awareness of the extent of the problem. It also helps with the healing process for survivors and for the loved ones of victims who did not survive.

At a candlelight vigil held Oct. 27, Aistrop received another shirt.

"I had a young lady bring a shirt to me and say, 'I made this for you to put on the clothesline,'" Aistrop said. "She said she got my name and number from the paper and learned about the vigil because of the articles on the clothesline. OK -- it brought tears to my eyes. So yes, it does work to get this info out into the community."