“I recently had an in‑office abortion with IV sedation. Even though I knew it was the right choice for me, it didn’t come without pain, fear, guilt, or second-guessing. I’m sharing this anonymously so other women — maybe even you — don’t feel alone. I didn’t make this decision carelessly. I thought about the baby, my future, my mental health, finances, and relationships. I cried, I doubted myself, I even felt like a terrible person at times. But deep down, I knew I was doing the best I could with what I had. I still think about the baby sometimes. I feel a little sad. But I also feel okay — more than I expected. I thought guilt would consume me forever, but instead, I’ve found peace. Not because I don’t care — because I do. One of the hardest parts wasn’t the procedure itself — it was the emotional weight. The fear of judgment. The pressure to feel a specific way. My partner’s reaction. I worried he’d hate me or blame me. But I had to return to this truth: only I know what it feels ...