RANA’S STORY

“I was ripped from my bed at 2 am when I was 14. I did not know what was going on but, as a child, I cried out for my mother.

“Mom!! Mom!! These people are taking me!!”

I finally got a glimpse of her standing there. Letting them throw me outside and down the stairs. I could not believe it, but that was only the beginning.

I was sent twice actually. The second time was more horrific than the first because I got there pregnant. I did not know until they told me. I was 16 then and I was told because I was a minor in the United States, my parents had complete control over me, and they forced me to abort it. Forced. Then they shamed me for it. I will never forget what the director said to me.

“You know what you deserve? You deserve to find the man of your dreams, marry him, have a baby, and watch it die in your arms!”

Twenty years later, after finding the man of my dreams and getting pregnant, I cannot let go of what “I deserve.” I have two beautiful, healthy kids, thank God, but I still get sick every time the memory is brought up. I tried to numb my feelings for twenty years. I had a horrible heroin addiction, but I made it out. I do not speak to my parents anymore, and it still hurts that I have a mother who does not love me. My kids will never know that pain. If I could help somebody else, it would not make it worth it, but it would at least lessen the blow. There are so many things that happened there that I will never forget, but this was the worst for me.”