I am now 27 years old, but I became a teen mother at the age of 15. My son is now 12, and he is the apple of my eye. He has taught me so much. Sometimes I feel like we are practically still growing up together. But when I was 15, all I heard were negative things about what I had done and how I had ruined my life. Nobody stopped to ask me how I ended up pregnant. It was not my choice. I didn't lay down to get pregnant. As a matter of fact, I was a virgin until this particular person, who was way, way, way older than me, changed that. I have already dealt with a lot of the emotions that came with what happened—the feelings of being unprotected, being let down, and being hurt by someone who should have never put me in that situation. Even now, there is a battle that I sometimes fight in my mind. There are moments when my son may look a certain way or do a certain thing that reminds me so much of that person, that moment, that pain, and that trauma. But through loving my son, he has taught me the meaning of forgiveness. Not forgiveness to the point where I would ever allow him to be in that person's presence. I still have boundaries, and I will always protect my son. But I have learned that I don't have to hold on to the pain of the act itself every single day. Because from something so painful came such a beautiful soul. And I love him with all my heart. I never want to see him in pain. Maybe I am a little too overprotective, but it is because I want him to be safe. I know I can't protect him from everything. The world will happen. I may not even be able to keep him away from the person who fathered him for his entire life. But I can thank my son each and every day for showing me that the world wasn't as cold as I once thought it was. He taught me that love doesn't always bloom from something beautiful. Sometimes something beautiful can grow out of one of the most painful moments of your life. Whew it felt good to finally say this! Thank you all for this space to share!! I pray my journey helps someone.