Positive? How could this test be positive? Abby had been assured at the hospital the chances of her becoming pregnant from the rape in the park were slim. Her mom had been strangely understanding when Abby had told her about the rape, but had been relieved on hearing that her daughter wasn’t pregnant. How would she take it when Abby broke this news? She could get an abortion; her mom would never have to know she was pregnant that way. Women did it all the time, why couldn’t she? This seemed to be the solution for her, but why did it leave her feeling so empty?  She picked up the phone and made an appointment for the next day at the Women’s clinic downtown. As she hung up the phone, Abby tried to push all the feelings of guilt from her mind. It had to be done; there was no other way. Abby just had to accept this bend in her road, and move on. She was in medical school, about to graduate, Abby couldn’t have a baby right now. Her career was on the line. If she had a baby right now, her career would be over. She would never make it through residency and care for this child. She knew her Mom wouldn’t be supportive or helpful in the least. Abby was totally on her own in this. There would be a time for her to have children, but right now was not that time. When she was married, and had a husband to help and support her, that was the time to have children, when she could care for them. As much as Abby wanted this to be so, it wasn’t. She knew killing this baby was wrong, but pushed that to the back of her mind for the time being.

Abby sat in the waiting room of the clinic. She could just get up and leave, no one would ever know she had been here. The door opened and the girl ahead of her was called into the back. She was still thinking of leaving when the door opened again. Dread filled her as she heard her own name called from the nearby doorway. If this was the right thing to do, why did it feel so wrong? Rising she followed the nurse to a small, brightly lit room. She was sitting on the end of the table when the doctor entered, followed by the same nurse. Abby felt like she had a stone in the pit of her stomach. The doctor rushed about, getting ready to go to work, not noticing the nervous girl in front of him. Abby did as she was asked when the nurse approached and began getting her ready. Soon she was lying on her back, a sheet over her lap. When she heard the doctor approach and begin his work, Abby tried not to think, just stare at the ceiling. An hour later, Abby walked out of the clinic, an empty feeling in her womb. She tried to act normal at home, and never let her Mom see her crying, but Abby knew at times, her Mom wondered what had happened to her daughter. It seemed someone had sucked the life right out of her, and in truth, that doctor had, the life of her unborn baby.