Leah Hayes is a writer and artist in New York City who uses drawing as a medium to express complicated concepts and understand difficult experiences.
In her upcoming comic book Not Funny Ha-Ha: A Handbook for Something Hard, Hayes illustrates the realities of medical and surgical abortions.
“I felt like I had something to 'say' about what having an abortion looks like, and drawing is really my way of telling that story," Hayes told BuzzFeed Life in an email.
Hayes mentioned that the illustrations offered another perspective on abortion, and helped her work out her own feelings about the subject.
“The format might be unconventional, [but] I still want to convey a feeling of comfort and openness, while also conveying the weight of the topic," Hayes said.
The book illustrates the experience of abortion with a narrative focusing on two fictional characters, 23-year-old Mary and 31-year-old Lisa.
Hayes covers the technical and medical aspects of abortion as well as the deeply personal thoughts and steps that many people go through.
Such as reaching out to someone you trust and finding support through friends.
And knowing what really happens to your body.
"Writing this book was not intended to lighten the subject of abortion, define 'right or wrong,' or make it trivial in any way," Hayes said.
While Hayes isn't trying to answer questions about abortion, she hopes the book expresses a version of something many people choose to do.
