• Unplanned Parenthood

  by B.A.

  Names have been changed. Daisy and I knew each other for about five years before we cuffed. We have a lot in common: We are both from Brooklyn. We both have a good sense of humor and like hip-hop, action movies, and comedy.

• I’m Still Grieving My Abortion Two Years Later

  by Joanna Maestre

  I got pregnant six weeks after giving birth to my son Xavier. Circumstances made it impossible for me to have that second child, so I had an abortion. Even though it was almost two years ago, I am grieving that loss now more than I did then.

• The Pandemic Reawakened My PTSD

  by Joanna Maestre

  I’d gotten my post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) under control. Then the coronavirus disrupted my routine, and my flashbacks came storming back. But I’m working hard to keep it together with the help of therapy, a new at-home routine, writing, and my partner Taiquan.

• Coronavirus Wrecked My Transition From Foster Care

  by Joanna Maestre

  I first heard people talk about coronavirus at my school during the first week of March. I go to a vocational school called Co-op Tech, and I am studying to be a graphic designer. Classmates and teachers talked about the virus, but I was honestly too busy to worry about the few cases that were in New York.

• A Parent’s Road to Recovery

  by Rosita Pagan

  This story originally appeared in Rise, a magazine written by parents involved in the child welfare system. When my daughter Rosemarie was 5 years old, she told me that her father was sexually molesting her when she went on weekend visits.

• I Had to Dig Up My Buried Emotions to Save My Life

  by Anonymous

  Names have been changed. Emotions are very powerful and they should be respected, not ignored. I learned this lesson the hard way. When I was in high school I was placed in a group home. I didn’t know the real reason why I was removed from my parents.