VICKY

We were sitting together between university lectures when my friend said, “I think I’m pregnant”.

Staying calm, we went to get a pregnancy test from a pharmacy. I’d been using contraception, but I told her I’d take a test too, in solidarity. While waiting for the results, I smiled at my friend to reassure her it was going to be OK. Then we turned the tests over and my smile vanished. My friend was not pregnant – but I was.

A hundred thoughts rushed through my mind in about five seconds. I’m only 19… I’m halfway through my degree… What about starting my career… The man I’ve been seeing is not a nice guy… I don’t want his child… I can barely afford to feed and clothe myself, let alone someone else… I want to travel and have more experiences before I become a parent… No, no, no, this can’t be my future.

And then I made a firm choice: I will have an abortion.

I didn’t feel as panicked now, but I was still scared. What will it be like, I wondered. Will I be judged? Will it be painful? I felt like a mess until my appointment at my local MSI clinic. That’s when everything was explained to me, and I was given clarity. This can be fixed, I realised. I’m in control. The people here trust that I’m making the right decision for me.

I chose to have a surgical abortion. One of my closest friends came to the appointment with me – her presence comforting, her bag full of snacks.

I walked in and met two nurses. They were kind yet matter-of-fact, which put me at ease as it felt like any other medical procedure.

I was nervous and a bit emotional because of how unknown the situation was to me. One of the nurses, sensing this, offered me her hand. I squeezed it the whole time.

The procedure was kind of like a pap smear – a bit uncomfortable but not painful, and very quick. The moment I left out those clinic doors, I put it all behind me. My friend drove me home and we watched reality tv and ate ice cream.

What will always stick out to me about that day are the nurses. I felt so safe in their care.

And I think about how they go to work every day and do this outstanding thing for people. They won’t remember me, but I’ll always remember them.

Since my own abortion, I’ve been quite open about it. I’ve told people about my experience, and that’s prompted them to tell me about theirs. I’ve even gone with a friend to an MSI clinic when she made that choice for herself. It’s just so common.

There’s not been a single moment that I have regretted my decision to have an abortion. I think about it sometimes, but only with gratitude.

When I was offered a job abroad, I was able to be on a flight within weeks and experience a different culture for 18 months. I’ve built a career in marketing in London and have been having classical music training.

My life has been an adventure, and I got to design it.

I had a choice and everybody deserves that – no matter what they want to do in their life.