She recalled a verse from Isaiah someone had posted on social media. The verse read, “In quietness and confidence is your strength.” She wasn’t sure what that meant exactly, or who the verse was written to, but it made her want to be still and let Courtney be the first to speak, if she spoke again at all.

Finally, after what seemed like a geological age, Courtney looked up at her. “In health class today they talked about how women have babies. The monthly cycle. Egg and sperm.”

“Oh.”

“I remembered what you told me. That God was the one who created sex and it’s not dirty or anything. It just needs to be for people who are married.”

“So you were paying attention when we had that little talk.” Melissa gave her a smile. “What’s wrong?”

“Somebody brought up abortion. And the teacher said that a woman has a right to choose, that it’s in the Constitution. And Leslie said people who are against abortion just want to impose their religion on others. I wanted to say something, but I got scared.”

“That’s okay. Everybody gets scared when people disagree about important things like that.”

“Yeah, but I should have said what I was thinking.”

“What would you have said?”

“I don’t know. That it’s wrong to kill a baby. It was so sad, Mom. I don’t get how people can look at a baby in the womb and not think it’s a baby.”

Melissa nodded, her mouth dry.

“Then at lunch, I got into a fight with Leslie about it.”

“So you did say something.”

“I thought I could talk with her and tell her what I thought. I mean, we’ve been friends since first grade. But she said her mom had two abortions and she was glad. And that nobody can take that right away. I didn’t know what to say.”

A knot formed in Melissa’s stomach. It seemed like the perfect time to tell her story, but was Courtney ready?

No, that wasn’t the question.

Am I ready to tell her the truth?

“I don’t even want to go to health class anymore,” Courtney said.

“I understand. Those kinds of conversations are hard. And if you believe that God formed us in the womb and calls all life sacred, you are going to be different than what a lot of people believe.”

“I just don’t get how anybody could want to do that to a little baby.”

Melissa tried to think how best to steer the conversation, but before she could speak, Courtney stood.

“I’m going to do my homework before dinner.”

“Okay,” Melissa said, kicking herself for not taking advantage of the opportunity. It seemed like a never-ending cycle. She would hold back from saying something, then spend the rest of the day beating herself up for not saying it.