Miranda was impregnated by a much older boyfriend who got her drunk and had unprotected sex with her. We’ll call him Rolf. He had a difficult past, abandoned as a young child and placed in a series of foster homes, some of which were abusive. Though he was eventually adopted, it was by an eccentric woman who had been recently widowed. He missed out on many things a family should have provided for him, and received much that no child should ever be subjected to at home or elsewhere.
Rolf was not good husband material, and Miranda knew in her heart that he wasn’t. But, she was very young, and he made big promises, and, she wanted to put a good face on what had happened to her. So, she didn’t tell her family how she’d gotten pregnant, about the drunken seduction. She said she loved Rolf, and they wanted to marry right away.
Miranda’s parents were adamantly against her marrying such an unsuitable partner, and to marry at all at such a young age. When Miranda went to her physician in her early pregnancy, accompanied by her mother, the physician kindly suggested that perhaps Miranda should consider abortion, because she was very young, and her prospects were not good for a satisfying marriage to Rolf.
Miranda said no, she would not destroy her child, she just couldn’t do it. Her mother said she understood, and that the family would help her, that they would all be supportive.
Shortly after Miranda’s decision against abortion Rolf became involved in criminal activity and was sent to another state for several months in a work program for first time offenders. Miranda stayed at home, and wrote to him every day. They asked that they be allowed to marry in spite of the situation if Rolf got a good report from his supervisors and his probation officer, which he would work hard to earn because he loved Miranda and wanted to marry her and be a father to their child.
Miranda’s parents were in a quandary, they did not think this at all a good idea for Miranda, they did not like the choices that were before her. Should they encourage her to reconsider abortion? No, they would not choose for her, it must be her choice. And, even if it seemed practical, they could not bear the thought of destroying their grandchild. Should they allow her to marry Rolf? They very much did not want to do that. But, they were afraid Miranda and Rolf would run away together as soon as he was released, and they knew that could not be good for her or the expected baby.
Reluctantly, and with great misgivings, they allowed the marriage to take place, and everyone hoped for the best. The marriage lasted three years, with Miranda finally leaving Rolf after he again became involved in crime, and she became afraid for the safety of herself and her child.
Determined to get an education, and rebuild her life, she divorced Rolf and, with her small daughter, moved back in with her parents and siblings while she went to school.
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