Caitlin Clark stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at her reflection with a mixture of disbelief and fear. The pregnancy test lay on the edge of the sink, its two pink lines stark against the white plastic. She could feel her heart racing, her mind swirling with a thousand thoughts.
“I can’t keep this pregnancy,” she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. The realization hit her hard. Just 22 years old, still in college, with dreams of a career in journalism, Caitlin had never imagined she would face such a life-altering decision so soon.
Her thoughts drifted to her boyfriend, Mark, and how they had always been careful. But accidents happen, she reminded herself bitterly. What would Mark say? Would he support her decision, whatever it might be? And her parents—how could she face them with this news?
Tears welled up in her eyes as she considered her options. Abortion seemed like the most practical choice. She couldn’t afford a child, not now. She had plans, ambitions, a future she had worked so hard to build. But the weight of guilt and shame pressed down on her shoulders. Could she really go through with it?
The minutes ticked by as Caitlin wrestled with her emotions. She thought about her friends, her roommates—would they understand? Would they judge her? The stigma of unplanned pregnancy seemed overwhelming, suffocating.
Finally, she took a deep breath and wiped her tears away. She knew what she had to do, even if it was the hardest decision of her life. She picked up the phone and dialed the number for the local women’s health clinic, her hand shaking slightly as she listened to the ringing tone.
“Hello, this is Caitlin Clark,” she said when someone finally answered. “I need to make an appointment.”
As she spoke those words, Caitlin felt a mix of relief and sorrow wash over her. The road ahead would be tough, filled with uncertainty and heartache, but she knew she was making the right choice—for herself, for her future.
