My abortion story

[PeaceNikki]

10. I am so glad that your friend had a choice.

I was 22 years old. I had a four year-old. I was in an extremely physically and emotionally abusive marriage; too scared to leave.

My ex-husband had "lost" his job and he was carrying our insurance. I had just entered the full-time work force about a year earlier and had just started to build a career. I was just accepted into a management training program and saw an opportunity to make something of myself. My ex was threatened by this and thought I'd leave. So, he intentionally broke a condom. How do I know this? He told me after the fact.

So, here I was, deathly afraid of the man I called my husband, no insurance, hardly able to make ends meet - and pregnant. I knew that bringing another child into this world in such an awful circumstance with a man who was an evil alcoholic and had already proven himself as a sorry excuse for a father was wrong.

So, on the most ironic of days, Mother's Day... I had an abortion. I know that it was the right choice. Five long years later I gained the strength and self-respect to get out of the marriage. But, the scars that the man left on me and my son are permanent.

Strength to all of us women. It's a very personal decision and I am sickened that some would classify mine (or anyone's) as an abortion of "convenience". No, it was survival.

Choice does not force beliefs and decisions onto people, restricting choice does.

Peace and strength to all women faced with difficult decisions. I will fight until my last breath for the rights of all of us to be in control of our own future.