It was a regular Friday afternoon, the sun was shining and the birds were chirping. Sandra thought she was just going to have a calm weekend, when she realized something just wasn’t right with herself and she didn’t know exactly what it was. Sandra’s boyfriend is on a business trip and comes back on Sunday; she knew she wanted to do something special for when he comes back. She made it back to her apartment when her best friend called and asked if she wanted to meet for dinner and a drink tonight, knowing she had no plans she agreed and proceeded to get herself ready and head on over to her friend Sophia’s house. Sophia’s house is always the hangout house; everyone has those friends whose house that is open to everyone and anyone anytime of the day.
Sandra and Sophia have been friends for many years, too many to count. They have such a good relationship, many would say. They have had their fair share of arguments however over the years. Ironically these arguments have been because of political standpoints. At some point every friendship has their hardships and they either overcome them or they move on to new friendships.
When Sandra got to Sophia’s house she went into the bathroom and notice a box of feminine products on the counter and that’s when Sandra finally realized what she had forgotten about. That she may possibly be pregnant. Seeing that Sophia is her best friend and she is already with her, and they are supposed to be going out for drinks she should just be up front about her situation.
Sandra says “Hey Sophia, there’s something that I should probably tell you.”
“You can tell me anything.” Sophia says with open arms.
“This is something absolutely nobody knows about and completely confidential.”
“Come on Sandra you’re killing me with the anticipation already!”
“….I don’t really know how to say this…” Sandra mumbles “…but I think I might be…pregnant..”
“Oh my gosh I am so excited! I’m going to be such an amazing aunt! You and Johnny are going to be fantastic parents! I can’t believe this.” Sophia says overly excited.
“Soph..I don’t think I can go through this. This is all too much I haven’t even told Johnny yet, I just don’t think we’re ready for a child yet.” Sandra and Sophia have complete opposite political views, especially around the topic being abortion. Sandra is pro choice when Sophia is pro life.
Sophia looks appalled by the words that just came out of her best friends mouth.
“So what your saying is you’re thinking about an abortion….?” Sophia questions.
“Sophia, I need you to try to understand where I’m coming from. I just can’t have a baby right now. I’m not ready, he’s not ready, we just can’t right now. I hope you understand.”
“You know I will never be okay with that. Abortion is wrong and will never be okay with the idea especially when the woman’s life is not being threatened.”
“So you think even though a couple cannot afford to keep a child, to provide them the type of life they need they should still continue on with the pregnancy?” Sandra questions her friend.
“Yes Sandra that is exactly what I think. Your life is not at harm or risk because of this child so you should keep it. Adoption is always an option.”
“I understand adoption is always an option, everyone says that. There are so many children waiting to be adopted and find their forever-home everyday, why would I want to add to that. What if this child ends up in the wrong hands?
“Which is exactly why you should keep the baby so you don’t have to think about the what ifs you’ll be living it. You’ll know what could possibly happen. No one is ever ready for a child they take it day by day and figure it out.”
Sandra gets very upset, she realizes this conversation is not going her way and decides to just keep quiet for now and maybe the conversation will die off on its own.”
“Sandra, have you even done your research on this or are you just going off of first thought, the easiest way out?”
“Truthfully, I have not done my research, I just always thought it was an option especially in cases like this.”
“I think you should really look into the procedure yourself, but as your best friend, I am more than willing to help give you some information and my concerns about it.”
“Um yeah, if you want to fill me in on what you know and then I can do my research when I get home.”
“Okay so for starters I hope you know that many states are making this procedure illegal because it is so horrible…”
Sandra gets loud and cuts her off “Yes Sophia I know that tell me something I don’t know.”
“Okay..I’m going to forget the attitude, it is a very brutal process to get the fetus out, and in most cases the baby doesn’t come out in on whole..they have to keep pulling out parts until they get the whole fetus out.”
“..Oh..my..goodness..I really hope you’re lying..that sounds so disturbing.”
“No I’m not lying, why do you think people want it to be illegal. But not only that, most women who have had an abortion have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.”
“Okay I definitely did not know any of this, I’m really glad you’re well informed about this.”
“I have some more information if you want to hear it?”
“I am all ears.”
“It is said that the fetuses feel the pain while the procedure is happening, after 8 weeks they develop the spinal reflex which is the most embryonic response to pain. Could you image having to feel your body being pulled apart?’’
Sandra is just speechless at this point and doesn’t have anything to say to Sophia.
“Not only that, but you put your future pregnancies you plan for at risk. 15 percent of women who have a history with abortion experience a miscarriage in the first trimester. I don’t want to contradict your thoughts but I just feel you should be fully informed before making any decisions.”
“Well thanks so much Sophia I really don’t know what I would do without you. I still just don’t know how Johnny is going to react to all of this. But I definitely don’t think I need to do further research, I think you got it all covered.”
“Well of course you should talk to him, this situation greatly involves him as well Sandra. I know we don’t see eye to eye very often but I’m glad we could have a civil conversation about this.”
“I just never new how severe the topic was until you started telling me everything. I am really hungry though, can we go get our dinner now?”
“Oh my gosh! I almost forgot we were supposed get dinner! I guess you wont be having a drink tonight but I will gladly have a second drink to celebrate for you tonight.”
“I expect nothing less from you Soph” Sandra says laying going into hug Sophia.
“Alright let me just grab my purse and then we can go get you something to eat now that you’re eating for two” Sophia says winking at Sandra.
Reflective Authors Note:
Going into this assignment I had a complete different mindset and viewpoint. I always saw myself as a pro-choice, I never researched anything prior to this assignment so I never knew anything that went into having an abortion or the procedure or even what happens after or what could potentially happen. I wouldn’t say that I am now pro-life but I’m also not pro-choice either, I would say I am a happy medium. I found this assignment to be extremely difficult and even now I am still not completely confident in it. This one challenged me in so many ways that I hated at first, I wouldn’t say I like this assignment now that I am done with it but I am happy I am done with it for now.
Citations:
“Pros & Cons - ProCon.org.” Abortion, abortion.procon.org/.
“Sign in with an OpenAthens Account.” OpenAthens / Sign In, library.cqpress.com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqr_ht_abortion_2017&type=hitlist&num=38.
“Sign in with an OpenAthens Account.” OpenAthens / Sign In, library.cqpress.com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqr_ht_abortion_2017&type=hitlist&num=4.