I am sure my story starts out like many others. I am a 20-year-old girl who is intelligent with large aspirations and dreams. I have a huge future in front of me, and I plan on fulfilling every part of it.
Or so I thought. I was dating a guy from my school for about 8 months. He was everything that I dreamed of. Not only was he super sweet but a blast to be around. We had been having protected sex for awhile, and even would talk about what I would do if something happened and I got pregnant. Neither he nor I wanted to have a baby this young (he is 20 also).
The night before he went back home for the summer, we had sex and the condom broke. Although I was on the pill as well, we were both scared. We again talked about what “we” would do if I got pregnant. I had always been more or less lectured from my mom about how abortion was not the way to go, especially since we were from a Catholic family, but once I found out that I was pregnant, I knew what I had to do.
I found out that I was pregnant in the middle of May. I had gone to Wal-Mart to get an home pregnancy test, and was not the least surprised when it was positive. I immediately called Planned Parenthood and got an appointment for another pregnancy test. It also came back positive. The first person that I told was my roommate who had also been one of my best friends for 18 years. She was 100% supportive. The only problem, my boyfriend was 10 hours away. I was scared to tell him at first, and really had no intentions on telling him at all, since it was my decision to make, but eventually called him (even though my mind was made up already). He was just as scared as I was. He wanted to make sure that the abortion was really what I wanted, and also to make sure that I was going to be okay emotionally as well as physically. The next issue was how was I going to pay for it. I had rent, car payment upon other bills, AND I had to somehow pay for it without my parents finding out. I ended up getting a credit card to pay for the bill. This is one debt I am more than happy to pay.
I went through the procedure on July 3, 2004. Now that I look back, I really wasn’t that scared. I just felt that it was something that I had to do, not only for my benefit but also for the baby that I wasn’t going to bring into the world. Afterwards, I felt a little tired, but was back to my normal activities without anyone wondering if something was different about me. It was one of the BEST decisions I have ever made. I am now a junior in college, and doing very well. Although I plan on having children someday, I am glad that I didn’t bring a child into the world that I am not ready to take care of, financially OR emotionally. Some days I can barely take care of myself! Regardless, my now ex-boyfriend and I are still friends and although we don’t talk about the abortion often, I know that it was the best thing for him and me…AND I AM NOT SORRY!!! =====
