Over a midnight spill-session the following month, Jill confesses that she and her boyfriend lived in a state of panic after they lost their virginity to one another, despite using protection. Convinced she had accidentally become pregnant, Jill only started breathing again after a test at the gynecologist's office proved she was fetus-free.
Vanessa phones me in tears. For the last 12 hours, she has not stopped vomiting and has suffered stomach-wrenching, body-shaking cramps from taking the morning-after pill.
Fearing that although her boyfriend pulled-out, she could still have gotten pregnant, she went to Planned Parenthood and, without telling her mom, boyfriend or any friend but me, took the anti-pregnancy pill. Although plagued by the temporary discomfort, Vanessa was relieved to have cast off the burden of doubt, concern and fear.
