Abortion. To some people, that's a scary word. To some, it's a curse word. To some it means salvation.

Now let me start by saying that I, myself, have never had an abortion, nor have I ever been pregnant. But if you were going to decide whether or not you should read this based on the judgment of my pregnancy/abortion status, then I pray that you do keep reading, because that shouldn't matter anyway.

I'm pro-choice. That means I support your choice and your right to be able to choose. I'm not pro-abortion. I'm pro-YOU.

I'm pro-adoption. I'm pro-birth. I'm pro-birth control. I'm pro-motherhood. I'm pro-never-having-children-ever. I'm pro-choice. I'm pro-YOU because I believe that you have the right to make your own choices. There are too many exceptions or "what-ifs" to rule out abortion completely.

Have you read the abortion stories posted online by these brave women, young and old? Have you cried reading them? I have. Not only for the heartache I can feel through their words, but I grieve the decisions that they could not make, were forced to make or wanted to make. (If you are wondering what I cried about, please click on the link here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-abortion-heartbeat-bill-pregnant-11-year-old-rape-victim-barred-abortion-after-new-ohio-abortion-bill-2019-05-13/ ).

There are completely too many exceptions of rape and incest to rule it out. But that shouldn't be the only exception. Some people aren't ready for children. Some women's birth control failed. Some don't want children at all. The fetus may have died already and must be removed. When some women fall pregnant, it can become life-threatening. The woman might die or the child may end up dead.

These are just some of the possibilities of why someone would choose to have an abortion. But the women who choose to have an abortion do not owe you their stories. They don't owe you why. And they shouldn't have to bear their souls to have a *chance* at human rights, let alone proper medical care.

A woman's choice is her own. Her choice can be just that, her's. It can be between her and the father. Between her and her loved ones. But most importantly, it should be between her and her doctor. Don't stand in her way.

I am a feminist for these reasons and more. I believe in women. I believe in the separation of church and state (we do not all worship the same, and that's okay. But that's another article for another time...). And I believe that men do not have any say in what a woman can or can not do. Women do not exist solely to give birth. We do not live in a dystopian world like in "The Handmaid's Tale." Women are human. We deserve rights, and we deserve a say in our own bodily autonomy at the very least.

Women do not exist to be an accessory to men.

It's simple. If you don't like abortions, don't get one. But don't make decisions for other people. You can't take away abortions. They will still exist. You will only take away safe abortions. Help save women's lives.

And to the brave women out there... I see you. I hear you. I support you.

I can't ask to change your mind, I can only ask you to educate yourself. Do it for the little girls. Do it for the women who the law is not protecting. Do it for the women who died because there was no access to safe abortions. Do it for your daughters, your future children, do it for your sisters, your mothers, your friends, and please... do it for yourself.

"Here's to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them." – Unknown