Kelly

When I was in high school, I met who I thought was the perfect guy. He could do no wrong in my eyes, until I found out that I unexpectedly pregnant. I knew right away that having a child wouldn’t work out at that point in my life. I was a senior in high school, and he was an unemployed 21-year-old. I made the decision as soon as the nurse told me I was pregnant that I would have an abortion. She tried to talk me out of it, but I wouldn’t budge.

“No woman should be forced to carry a child she isn't prepared to have to satisfy someone who has no clue about her life.”

Somewhere, deep in my gut, I knew having a baby with the man was NOT a good idea. He and I agreed that is what I would do and we would keep it to ourselves. But my parents ended up finding out after taking me to the doctor after I’d been very sick and in more pain than I could ever remember being in.

So, with the support of my parents and boyfriend, I had an abortion. I scheduled it during a school break so that I’d have plenty of time to recover, and my Dad took me to my appointment. Afterword, my parents took care of me while I recovered.

My boyfriend was out of town for work (National Guard), and in spite of agreeing that we’d keep it quiet, he told his entire unit what “I had done.” His fellow soldiers called me awful names to shame me for making the best choice for myself at that time. My boyfriend abused me frequently after the abortion; he berated me for “killing his kid,” physically beat me, and mentally tore me down. I felt so helpless because I had no one to talk to about what I had been through, and I was too ashamed to admit that the man I thought I was in love with was hurting me.

Now, seven years later, I have since moved on from that relationship and am married to a man who would walk through fire for me. I hate that there is such stigma that comes with having an abortion. No woman should be forced to carry a child she isn’t prepared to have to satisfy someone who has no clue about her life or situation. We all have choices in this world and this should stay one of them.