“So we get inside, and they make you pay immediately. So I go back, I have my gown on, I sat down on a cold table, and there was a tray with all these tools on it. And the door opens and the doctor walks in, washes his hands, puts on a pair of gloves, sits down on a little silver chair and scoots across the room. He told me to put my feet in the stirrups. I lay back and turned my head, and I heard the words, Get up! There’s still time.

“Right as he went to touch me, I said, ‘I can’t do this.’ He just backed up, ripped his gloves off, threw them in the trash, and left. He didn’t say a word to me. They don’t protect you when you leave. They protect you when you come in. So all those people thought I did it.”

Melissa closed her eyes, trying to push back the emotion overwhelming her. She locked eyes with David. “Those few seconds . . . You wouldn’t be standing here. I would have killed you.”

The pain of the story was written on David’s face. His chin quavered and tears came. Melissa had told him abortion was something she and Brian had considered, but she could tell he hadn’t understood how close he had come to being a statistic.

“I’m so sorry,” she cried and she put her arms around him and David hugged her, holding her neck with his hand. They were both holding on to each other in a grateful embrace of regret and love and hope.

“Don’t be sorry,” David said. “You let me live. There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

Melissa spoke into his shoulder. “I thought you might hate me.”

“No.” David pulled back and looked at her. “I don’t hate you at all. I’m so grateful.”

Susan approached and it was clear she had heard the conversation. With a smile in her voice, she said, “My turn.” She hugged Melissa tightly, and there was a mixture of sadness and forgiveness and joy in the laughter Melissa felt at that moment.

“Thank you for choosing life,” Susan whispered in her ear.

Melissa pulled back and took Susan’s face in her hands. With determination she said, “I know what happened all those years ago.”

“What?” Susan said.

“I had to be the mom who let go so you could be the mom who won’t. Thank you for being there for him.”

They held each other and cried. Melissa said, “I couldn’t let you go home without knowing all of it.”

“I’m glad you told him,” Susan said.