Mary

I was 12 years old when I was brutally raped. I took a test and learned I was pregnant. I knew if I went to the doctor, they would inform my family.

“Had there been a safe and legal option, I would still be able to get pregnant.”

I was scared. There were no legal options I could take, no safe and anonymous way to end the pregnancy. If I brought a life into this world, it would endanger not only my life, but theirs. I tried to kill myself because I had no options. It ended the pregnancy but now I can never have children.

Had there been a safe and legal option, I would still be able to get pregnant. I may not like abortion, but I stand by a person’s right to choose what they need to do. We need safe and legal abortions so young girls like I was don’t go to such drastic lengths and have to live with the shame and self-hate after their future is destroyed over something they had no control over.