Not In Vain:

A few years ago I got a phone call from a good friend of mine whom I had not heard from in a long time. I had just returned home from a long journey overseas, so it was good to talk to her again. After catching up with each other’s doings and life’s happenings, she then went on to tell me that she had recently found out that she was pregnant and was then expecting her third child.

At that time, she was already divorced and had been dating someone mainly to hang out with and not feel so lonely. With two kids at home and the prospect of living as a single parent, she had not had time to see or meet new people, go out, etc. I asked who the would-be father was and whether this had been planned or just an "accident." She told me that she didn’t feel anything special for him nor did she have a meaningful relationship with this man and that she didn’t want, at any cost, to have the baby. I simply told her that whatever decision she made - whether to keep the child and bring a new life into the world or to have an abortion - I would support her 100%, and that she would still be the same, good old friend to me regardless of the outcome and her decision.

Two weeks went by and I got another phone call. She had thought about it, had spoken with two girlfriends close to her and also with her mother. Her decision was final and she would have an abortion. She gave me a date and the clinic where the outpatient procedure would take place. The would-be father was committed to accompanying her and would also pay for all the costs. I wished her well and we both promised each other to keep in touch more often. (continued)