I was only a few days late on my period – nothing to worry about really. I bought the pregnancy test to simply ease my mind. My whole world stopped as I looked down and saw the plus sign. I was seized with terror and could hardly breath. There must be some mistake. Quickly, I took the second test – positive. How could this be?
In that moment, looking at that tiny plus sign that represents the most devastating moment of my life, I understood how women could choose abortion. In that moment of panic and fear, it didn’t feel like a new life, but rather the end of life as I know it. I want to go back; back to 10 minutes ago before I took the test. I know that sounds irrational but I wasn’t pregnant then. I’m pregnant now. I just want it to go away. I want to rewind time. It’s easy to understand women in crisis rationalizing that the baby isn’t a baby so they can make it go away. I never in my life thought I would consider having an abortion. I’m considering it now.
“Hello, this is Choose Hope Women’s Center. May I help you?”
… Discovering you are pregnant when you’re not ready to have a child can be a crisis, and crisis by definition is traumatic, scary, and confusing. Most people respond to crisis by wanting to find the quickest route back to normal. With an unintended pregnancy, whatever you decide to do will be life changing. Decisions that people most often regret are those that are made too quickly in the midst of a crisis. These kinds of decisions are not really decisions, but reactions. Give yourself a chance to breath, to sit quietly, and think things through. I will sit with you and try to answer any questions you might have. I won’t judge or pressure you. No one else can make this decision for you but it helps to talking to people who may have some insight.
“Would you like to come to Choose Hope Women’s Center and talk?”
“Yes, I think I would.” …