Cheryl's Story

I was 21 years old. Thrilled to be "of legal age" at least to go to bars and find out what it was all about. I thought I was cool and loved the attention I was getting from the men.

The first time I met him, I knew I would fall in love with him and I quickly did. We dated for about 6 months. All the usual stuff, dinner, dancing and movies. but mostly we would meet at the club we had met at and drink and dance. Then we went to my place, he said it was closer. It seemed that just about the time I began to question why I never went to his house and other oddities, I realized my period was late. He said we weren't "committed" but that he wasn't seeing anyone else, so why was I so upset.

When I found I was pregnant, I found out why we were not committed. Yep, you guessed it. He was married and had been for six years! It seems so obvious to me now at 29 years old. But back than, I was really blind. So I was 21, single, barely making my rent and pregnant with a married man's baby. I remember choosing which bill to pay every month and which would just have to wait. I had no Health Insurance. There were times all I ate was Top Ramen. There was no money for a baby. I cried the day and weeks after I had the abortion. Still, to this day, I support a women's right to choose and feel I made the right decision.

I swore to myself I would never ever get pregnant again until I was ready. Eight years later I have kept that promise. I took control of my body. I make the birth control decisions now. Speaking of now. My husband and I have just decided it's time! I am on the race to conception. Wish me luck.

Cheryl
September 1998