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When I was 16, I lost my virginity to a man who was much older than me. He was 22, and had many partners previously. He made me believe he loved me.

At the time, I suffered a lot of trauma from being bullied, therefore I searched for attention in male companionship, as some of us do. I allowed myself to give into his manipulation, which eventually led me to becoming pregnant because I trusted myself with him.

I knew I could not keep the child, because if I had, it would have suffered.

Two months after that abortion, I confided in a male best friend of three years. He lured me into his garage, which led to myself being raped.

His intention was to impregnate me, so that I may feel the pain all over again of abortion because he knew at 17, I was not in a position to care for a child nor bring a child into this world that I would have to give up. I knew I had no choice.

I knew that these were the best choices I could have made. I suffered trauma for so long after, especially with the stigma surrounding abortion.

When I was 18, I met my current boyfriend whom I've shared these stories with. He accepted me with open arms, and promised that I would never endure such pain and corruption ever again.

There is a person, or people, who will not look down on anyone for a decision such as this because it is your own choice. In my case, the love I was given was enough to catapult me into a world of happiness that I did not imagine could be my own yet again.