Beside the word safe was an asterisk, and in the fine print at the bottom she read something about side effects. They were rare, but some women experienced complications and even hospitalization. But the overwhelming message of the pamphlet was that abortion helped women take control of their own bodies and their futures.

If that were true, why was she having a problem with it? Why did she have a nagging feeling, like the nausea that followed her through the day, that this wasn’t just a blob of tissue growing inside, but a human being? Her child.

She sat back, still on her knees, and remembered a girl who’d been two years ahead of her in school. What was her name? Andrea? Annie? She couldn’t remember. There’d been a bonfire the night before the homecoming football game and the girl, whatever her name was, had sat on a log in a hoodie and spoken to those near her. Melissa had listened to their conversation.

“What was it like?” someone asked.

“It’s not that big of a deal. It’s like any other doctor’s appointment. It’s like having your teeth cleaned.”

The other girls laughed.

“But doesn’t it hurt?” someone said. “I heard you bleed a lot afterward.”

The girl rolled her eyes. “I’d do anything to not have a kid. Why should I be punished? The peace of mind was worth a little bleeding and cramping. That’s all that happened to me. And now things are back to normal. I made a mistake and I dealt with it.”

“What about inside the clinic? My mom said it’s dark and dirty in there.”

“Your mom is probably the kind that protests. It was like any other doctor’s office. The nurses were nice. The doctor told me what was going to happen. It’s the best decision I ever made.”

“No second thoughts?” another girl said.

“The only thing I’d do different is find a place where those crazies weren’t out front. They were holding signs with grisly pictures. I wish I hadn’t seen those. But I guess they’re everywhere. It ought to be illegal to protest like that.”

Melissa had seen the girl in the hallway the next week. She was tall and good-looking, and a guy from the football team had his arm around her. Was he the one who had arranged the procedure like Brian was arranging hers? Would the clinic near Indianapolis have protesters?

She stood and looked in the mirror, her face pale. She suddenly felt ravenous, so she stumbled to the refrigerator and found the nachos from the night before. She was so hungry she didn’t even heat them up.