I had my abortion in 1994 and none of my family knows. I was 19 years old and a high school dropout. I already had a one-year-old child and his father had just kicked the two of us out so that his new girlfriend could live with him.
Moving in with my aunt-who didn’t really want me there-was hard, but I began to slowly put my life back together. A friend told me that if I got my GED she would get me a job at her workplace, so I did.
It felt good to be earning my own money, especially since my son’s father refused to pay child support. I was almost ready to move out on my own when I found out that I was pregnant. I was shocked and so disappointed. There was no way that I could support two young children and pay the bills. Not to mention that I didn’t have health insurance and couldn’t afford the hospital bills.
After weighing all of the facts, I called my ex-boyfriend and told him about my pregnancy and my choice. He drove me to the clinic and paid for the procedure, which was nearly painless.
I occasionally think about what that child would be like today, but I quickly put it out of my mind. Because of the choice I made, my family and I are able to live comfortably. I was able to go to college and graduate-a lifelong dream. Most importantly, my son never had to suffer the way he would have if I had chosen differently. No, I’m not sorry.
