A World Without Roe

When I heard the SCOTUS decision today, my first thought was, “Why don’t women matter?” My second thought was of you. 11 years old. Too naive to understand what was happening to your body. But when you started to show, your mother knew immediately, and she brought you to the clinic. I remember you hid your face in your mother’s shirt when my resident tried to ask you questions. When it came time for the pelvic exam, you screamed and cried; so loud I can still hear you now. Your mom stroked your hair, but you couldn’t be consoled.

That was my last day on the OB/GYN rotation. I wasn’t there when you came for your follow-up. Sometimes I still wonder what happened to you, how your life turned out.

How would it turn out now?