Romina (not her real name) was 14 when she found out she was pregnant.
It was the fall of last year.
She had a boyfriend.
Bee Grandinetti
Serious enough that she and her mother had talked about her starting on birth control.
But at the doctors appointment she attended to begin taking contraception, a test revealed she was pregnant.
I didnt know how I was going to tell my mom, but I had to.
We both started to cry in the doctors office.
But Romina and her mother live in a Southern state whereabortionis now illegal.
Solutions are not within easy reachespecially for a family like hers, whose financial situation is precarious.
Nevertheless, Romina felt certain she didnt want to become a mother.
I knew I couldnt keep it.
I mean, I cant even take care of myself.
How was I going to take care of a baby?
It would ruin my life.
I am just starting to live.
Watch the film by Paola Mendoza here.
Both of them were very clear from the beginning that they did not want to continue the pregnancy.
I happened to know how to deal with this.
And understanding the legal realities of that as well.
The doctor told me we couldnt have an abortion in our state.
I felt as if the world was crashing in on me.
The illegality of abortion in the state that Romina is from was of huge concern to Rominas mother.
Its the reason the film obscures identifying details about the family.
Very real fears exist for those seeking abortion care in states where terminations are banned or severely restricted.
Similar concerns abound for those who help people in need.
I felt as if the world was crashing in on me.
I couldnt believe it.
Her first thoughts for her daughter were: She is a child.
How was she going to take care of a baby?
A girl taking care of a baby?
You are afraid that the state can come in and take you away, says Mendoza.
You do everything as an immigrant to be on the right side of the law.
She had the right to make this choice.
I needed to do it because it was what was best for me.
Romina, who is telling her story herself for the first time, says: I was really scared.
Id never been away from my mom in my entire life.
I felt really alone and scared, but I knew I had to do this.
How can I explain this?
I am mad, says Rominas mother.
Im mad because of the laws in my state.
Saying goodbye to her at the airport I was crying.
Id never been apart from her.
I kept crying, but we had to do this."
How Mendoza stays up all night with Romina after Romina takes the abortion pills.
For Mendoza, and Romina, and Rominas mother, what got them through it together was community.
Romina says: I actually liked NYC.
It was nice to have all those people around.
I am really grateful to everyone that helped me.
I am not sure why they helped me, but I really am grateful.
Honestly, it was really hard.
It was hard on my body.
I feel good because it was the right decision and my body is totally fine now.
Bad because it was hard to do, because I had to leave my house and my mom.
She has written forThe New York Times,Huffington Post,Glamour, Elle,andInStyle.
