Inspired by 2022’s overturn of Roe v. Wade, this story shows what happens when people don’t receive the reproductive care they need, the reality of those who do, and everything in between.

it hurts to breathe narrates a tale about generational trauma in the wake of various political issues. A transgender man who endures a post-rape abortion as a child grows up in search of a place he can call home. One young mother walks through life torn between being loyal to her partner or her parents. And finally, a girl who displays unwavering grit in learning a way to love despite her cracks.

This series of vignettes, told through three different perspectives, follows each individual as they fall out of a cozy family portrait before beginning to find their way back together. A message that echoes the words, “love heals.”