A Newborn's Cry

By Christianna Apps

When seventeen year old Cynthia Adams finds out that she is pregnant, her world crumbles. Raised in a Christian home, she can’t bear to tell her parents that she and her boyfriend, Matt, slept together, so she resorts to what she believes to be her final option: abortion.
Everything Matthew Engilles wants is at stake: his college scholarship, his reputation, and most importantly, his father’s respect and love. But after the abortion he promised Cynthia he’d love her forever. And now he tries to keep that promise, which grows harder and harder to do as they are separated and continue on different paths of life.
Neither realize that the scars that abortion leaves are lifelong. And when they see the child that was murdered, they are certain that there will never be forgiveness or relief. How could a Just God forgive murderers swamped by guilt and shame? But first Cynthia, and then eventually Matt, meet people who lead them straight to the throne of grace—the throne of mercy and forgiveness.
But now, even with the hope of eternal life and meeting their lost child in heaven someday, can the hurt and shame of the abortion ever end? And when a series of tragic events occur, will that draw Matt and Cynthia closer in love...or threaten to separate them forever?
Join Matt and Cynthia on their incredible journey of pain, love and reconciliation, as they find the One who created children in their mother’s wombs and can heal broken hearts and lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christianna Apps
• Release date: Mar 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311041067

Book preview

A Newborn’s

Cry

Christianna Apps

A Newborn’s Cry

Christianna Apps

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2016 Christianna Apps

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this eBook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favourite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

Dedicated to the millions of children who are aborted every day. May you truly rise up to sing with the angels.

Chapter One

Cynthia Adams sat in the clinic waiting room, her heart drumming wildly in her chest and her body so tense that she felt sick.

She knew that she was going to be called in soon, but she still wasn't sure if she could go through with it. She glanced over to her boyfriend who was in the seat next to her. He was hunched over, his hands clenched between his legs. His eyes were tightly closed. He also looked afraid.

Matt? She barely got the word out through the tightening in her throat.

He sat upright and looked at her.

I don't want to do it, Matt. She looked up at him with pleading eyes. Can't we go?

Where? His voice was hoarse, his words forced. If my dad found out, he'd kill me, and you already said you wouldn't tell your parents. What do you want to do?

I don't know. A tear slipped down her cheek. But I'm scared. Please can't we go? She pushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. Please?

Matt shook his head. It's too late, Cyn. Look, we'll talk to the lady before. It's going to be okay. He reached out and took her hand. It'll be okay. His words weren't convincing, especially after 17 years of her parents lecturing about how evil abortion was.

But Matt, what would our parents say if they found out? What would Pastor Joe say? What would our friends say? Everyone's against abortion. Cynthia thought back to the pro-life conference Matt and she had gone to last year. They had vigorously supported it, but it was so different when you were in the situation yourself.

A nurse entered the room.

Number 26 please.

Come on, Cyn, that's you. Matt took her hand and pulled her up. She looked around desperately, hoping for a chance of escape. Matt, please, She whispered hoarsely, her eyes petitioning him. "Please!"

Ignoring her, he guided her toward the nurse. She smiled, but the smile died before reaching her eyes.

She looked at Cynthia and motioned for her to follow her.

The two teens followed the nurse through a hallway, and when she paused outside a door, Matt asked his question. Do you think—I mean, could we maybe speak to someone first? Like, uh, a counsellor or something? My girlfriend and me are just a bit—eh—nervous about it.

The nurse nodded. Miss DeWick would be happy to talk to you. She pushed them through an open door and waited until the professional red-haired woman behind the desk looked up.

Miss DeWick, I have some people here who are a bit nervous about the procedure. They would like to talk to you, as time allows.

The woman nodded and motioned Cynthia to a chair on the other side of her desk. Matt stood behind her, his hands resting on her shoulders.

The nurse left the room.

Miss DeWick had been performing abortions and counselling girls to get abortions for over twenty years. And if anyone knew how to persuade a girl to get an abortion it was Ginger DeWick. She summed Matt and Cynthia up in a mere glance.

Obviously in love, they made the perfect couple. The boy looked about 18 and was tall with brown hair and dark eyes. She, on the other hand, was small and about the same age, perhaps a bit younger, with blue eyes, a fair complexion and blonde hair.

Ginger DeWick immediately noticed a simple silver cross hung on a delicate chain around the girl's neck.

Religion. That could get in the way of so much, if not dealt with properly.

Ginger smiled sweetly at the frightened girl.

I see that you're a Christian. I am too.

...

Matt immediately relaxed. He felt Cynthia relaxing too. This woman was a Christian. That had to mean something. After all, if nothing else, it showed that not all Christians were against abortion. That was good. There must be some passage then that condoned abortion, or something biblical that hinted it was okay that the pro-lifers had missed or ignored. After all, there wouldn't be a Christian woman working in an abortion clinic if it was against the Bible, right?

The woman was talking again.

So you are obviously not sure about abortion, is that correct?

Cynthia and Matt both nodded.

Well, would you want to have a baby? Matt shook his head but Cynthia hesitated.

It would mean staying up all night, cleaning dirty baby nappies, forgetting about finishing high-school—if you're still in school—Never being able to earn a college degree, stuck with a potentially rebellious child—forever. Ginger DeWick made it sound awful. But, if you decided to have an abortion, well, there is no baby yet. Just some cells, grouped together. Of course, it will become a baby if not dealt with soon, but as yet, there is no life.

Cynthia shook her head slowly. She had always been taught that babies were treasures to be prized above all else, but surely what this woman was saying was true. A baby must be hard to look after. In fact, they sounded like little monsters, from Miss DeWick's description. And both she and Matt wanted to go to college. And anyway, if it was only cells, not a child yet, then there would really be nothing wrong with abortion…right?

Isn't there any other option? Cynthia pleaded.

Well, Ginger continued, There's also adoption. But you know what that means. At their questioning looks she continued. If your parents don't know you're pregnant, they'll find out. After a while you can't hide it, you know. They'll tell your friends, and you'll probably be shamed publicly. Then after excruciatingly painful labor—much more painful that a simple termination procedure—you'll have a baby, which you become attached to. It will cost you and your parent’s time, money and effort to find a suitable home for the baby. And what if the child has a problem and no one will adopt it? It could be born seriously Down syndrome, or even born blind, for all we know.

Cynthia and Matt exchanged glances. Both options sounded terrible. Keeping the child was impossible. And nether wanted their parents to find out that they had slept together.

Ginger DeWick sensed their hesitancy.

And of course, your last option is termination.

Our parents always told us that a baby is alive from conception. Matt spoke. That it will feel pain. Is that true?

Ginger smiled. Of course not. If it were alive, then it would be murder! And murder has never been legal. It is just some cells that have grouped together with some tissue, and is forming a baby, but, of course, it isn't one yet. It will feel nothing. She looked at Cynthia. How far along are you?

Uh... I'm not exactly sure. She shrugged. About 20 weeks.

Ginger's smile almost broke her face. 20 weeks. Five months. More painful—much more painful for Cynthia, but also much more money for her. Most girls who came in were only a few weeks along, and that paid her just a bit more than a pittance. She did the calculations in her head. This girl would have to pay over 700 dollars. She couldn't let this chance slip away.

Something scraped what was left of Ginger' conscience. Was abortion at five months even legal? Or safe?

She pushed the thought away. The girl needed an abortion, and she needed the money. And it had to be done soon, because the girl was just starting to show.

Good, good. That is the perfect time to come. Ginger smiled. You'll hardly feel anything. And the fetus will be removed in just a little over an hour. You'll be in recovery for a short while, then you can go home and put all this behind you. She smiled.

Cynthia grimaced. A short while?

Just a couple hours.

How much will it cost? Matt had said he would pay out of his savings, but she wanted to know anyway.

Just over 700 dollars.

700 dollars? Matt squeaked. I only have 200.

Cynthia felt suddenly lighter. Matt didn't have enough. She couldn't pay for an abortion. She couldn't have an abortion—at least not today. She didn't know what they would do, but they would figure out something.

Ginger was speaking again. Oh, that's alright. Don't worry about a thing. Just call your dad, and he can make the transaction over the internet.

Matt lowered his head. My dad doesn't know. He looked up quickly. He can't know.

Ginger thought for a while. Tell him that your car's having problems and he needs to send the money. Here's our bank's details. She pushed a card in front of Matt with a branch code, account