I had an abortion when I was 18. I had been feeling nauseated for a few days. My friend stood with me while I watched the test develop two pink lines. On the drive home we talked a little about abortion but I just wasn’t sure.

I told my boyfriend that I was pregnant and he begged me to get the abortion. He feared his parents response and honestly, so did I. He took me to planned parenthood and I scheduled the procedure. I wasn’t scared or nervous, I just wanted to get it over with.

The clinic was very nice, clean, and well staffed. Everyone made me feel safe. The doctor briefly explained the procedure but I told him I didn’t want to know. The whole thing took about ten minutes. I went to the recovery room and rested for maybe an hour.

When I got home I remember crying myself to sleep. I was so full of emotion, but regret was not one of them.

That boyfriend and I didn’t work out but I have never had negative feelings towards him. Now ten years later I am happily married to a man that accepts all my flaws and has never judged me.

I have since been diagnosed with cervical incompetency and am unable to maintain a pregnancy past 22 weeks (I have had two horribly heartbreaking miscarriages). I questioned my doctors about my previous abortion being the cause of my new found problem but they assure me that they are not related.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I hadn’t had the abortion. But I know in the long run I made the right decision.

My husband and I are looking into adoption at this point. I can raise a child for someone who could not make the same choice as me. Everyone deserves the option of freedom. And if abortion is your freedom, I support you.