Bella had arrived a while ago with great hopes but now, sitting on that public bench in the middle of the street, she doesn't know what to do or even where to go.
All her hopes seem dashed and she can't see herself just going home without having had a chance to let go of the burden she carries within her.
Her decision had already been made, she even had the means to support this decision but alas, she did not plan to be confronted with what happened to her when she arrived.
Admittedly, when filling out the online appointment form, she had not specified her age, but she thought it would be fine since it was not stated in the conditions presented to her.
Bella closed her eyes remembering that humiliating yet embarrassing moment she had to go through again because of this being growing inside her.
Earlier.
Bella arrived at the clinic in a good mood finally being able to get rid of the burden in her life and went to the reception. She found a sweet-faced young woman there who answered her politely. The woman's smile immediately reassured Bella who introduced herself to the woman giving her her school card.
"Are you Bella Grande Santos? The lady who wants to accomplish an abortion?" she asked skeptically.
Bella flinched at the woman's tone before swallowing and answering.
"Yes madam, I am the patient who is requesting this operation".
The woman twisted her face before sighing. Picking up her computer to check in case she missed anything, she opened the appointment files, glancing a few times at Bella on the other side of the desk.
"I see. You didn't specify your age yet there was a heading on it," the woman added, glancing critically at Bella, who lowered her head.
"Since it wasn't mandatory like the other information, I figured…" Bella tried to defend herself but the woman backed off.
"We don't usually demand this kind of information from our patients because our clinic is known to have certain ethics." She stopped casting a contemptuous look at Bella, "Abortion is not a practice to be taken lightly, which is why even if done on a minor, the presence of an adult is always required."
Bella lowered her head before sighing.
"You can go back and come back with an adult guarantor but if you don't have one…" the woman paused muttering a rather insulting phrase about the light-thighed girls before grabbing her computer mouse seemingly searching for something on her computer.
"You can always go to one of the cities below. I'm going to write you down on this piece of paper. I'm doing it because you're still a kid and I imagine your mother doesn't even know about the great bullshit you did," she stopped with a sigh of exasperation before continuing.
"I don't want to judge you, but in the future, think about the consequences of your actions before you get carried away by your libido. Sex if you can't live without it can be controlled. I will also note some methods of contraception that will work perfectly for you."
She finished talking, copying down on a notepad sheet what Bella thought she was saying and Bella wanted to kick back.
"It's not like that, I'm…" Bella closed her mouth, saying there was no point. This woman has already made up her mind about her, telling her it's rape will only serve to reinforce her idea that she's trying to shirk her responsibilities.
The woman finished writing and handed the slip of paper to Bella.
"Unless you are returning with your relatives, I advise you to go to these cities. Abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy is carried out there free of charge in the clinics of the town hall, whether or not the women live in other areas."
Bella just picked up the piece of paper before reading it.
"Is it… secure?" She is worried.
"Ah my dear, abortion in itself is not something that we would advise women, especially your age, hence the contraceptives to avoid this kind of situation." The woman spoke in annoyance, then taking a breath she continued, "But since women don't care about protecting themselves before sex, abortion is becoming more and more inevitable. So back to your question, our clinic makes sure to carry out these operations with professionalism and seriousness. I don't know if this is the case for these places, especially with the free services that these municipalities practice. I also don't know if they have the appropriate technical equipment".
The woman finished speaking, adding concern to Bella's mind. The latter just nodded before bending slightly to greet the woman and came out of the clinic walking aimlessly down the street. What should she do now?
She found a public bench nearby and sat down on it, crying.
Her eyes are red from having cried so much and her face is dejected. She had thought she could abort safely and go home the same day, but things got complicated again when she walked through the doors of the clinic.
To believe that her life is only a series of difficulties since her birth. She lost her biological parents so early and despite the love of her current family, unfortunately, she still feels like an outsider. The reason why she wanted to be perfect was so that they would never regret adopting her. But there, she will bring them shame and ignominy.
What should she do now? Getting back home into this state is impossible, not while pregnant. But she can't stay here either because she can't provide a guarantor. Bella is in a dilemma, she doesn't know anyone in this town, at least enough to serve as her guarantor. She took the slip of paper given to her by the receptionist and sighed. If she chooses these options, the nearest town is about fifty kilometers from here, she will have to travel again and she is not sure of returning the same day. She could even do more than two days there and when she comes back, her family will certainly ask her questions.
Moreover, she is not sure of her safety. It must be said that the woman was not very reassuring in asking her to go. The only safe option available to her is to return to this clinic with an adult as a guarantor.
But where to find one?