Whispers in the Shadows

By Connie Wright Roberts

This book exposes how lifelong emotional trauma effects a woman who chooses to have an abortion. The role of motherhood is central to a woman's identity in her role of creation and to try and deny that creates unresolved conflict.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Connie Wright Roberts
• Release date: Jan 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088071793

Book preview

Whispers in the Shadows

Whispers in the Shadows

Whispers in the Shadows

C W R

Connie Wright Roberts

Contents

1 Prologue

2 Cecelia

3 Sarah

4 Rebecca

5 Willow

6 Daniela

7 The Kingdom of the Unborn

8 Choices

1

Prologue

The Federal bill that failed in May of 2022 in the United States Senate, in its entirety refuses to acknowledge the actual humanity of an unborn child, or how abortion is dangerous to a woman’s health. In 2021 this bill proposed it was a necessary part of essential health care considerations. The drafters of the bill however never acknowledged that abortion ends the life of a developing human being. The comparison to other medical procedures does not align with medical procedures that are supposed to protect all of us, by definition who are listed as a human being.

There are multiple risks associated with abortion that many women do not realize until after they make the choice to abort

Pelvic Infection

 Fetal parts or other products of pregnancy may not be completely emptied from the uterus, requiring further medical procedures

Blood clots in the uterus

Heavy bleeding

Cut or torn cervix: 

Perforation of the uterus wall

Anesthesia-related complications

Rh Immune Globulin Therapy

There are also long-term medical risks that can occur from abortion

Future childbearing:  Complications associated with an abortion or having many abortions may make it difficult to have children later in a woman’s life.

Risks of continuing a pregnancy

Although every pregnancy has some risk of problems, continuing a pregnancy and delivering a baby is usually a safe, healthy process.

Women suffering from PTSD is a documented diagnosis that occurs when an abortion has been performed on the mother, along with the medical professionals who perform the abortion.

2

Cecelia

Cecelia grimaced as she completed cleaning up the kitchen after feeding her ten siblings, parents and visiting cousins as well. She was tired of being the scullery maid her mother had forced upon her. She believed it was her mother’s doing, but really it was the southern society that placed her in this role. They lived on a farm, and as such life was one with a frugal existence. It was a constant cycle of raising livestock along with a garden to support the family. Sometimes her father would set up a roadside stand with the extra vegetables that they did not can, to bring in a little more cash. That was such an embarrassment to her, she believed that the town then looked upon them as being dirt poor. She was certain that somehow, she had been displaced, ending up in the wrong family. She was one of the eldest of the ten children and a girl to boot, so her plight had been predestined from birth. Her mother measuring only four-foot ten worked part time in a factory to help support the brood, along with her husband who tended to the cattle they raised. This only left Cecelia to be the one to take on the responsibility of household chores. At that moment James, one of her brothers, came running through the kitchen dropping a whole plate of food on the floor. Mother, she shouted, I have homework to do, I cannot keep cleaning all night long, please do something about these boys. Her mother shuffled into the kitchen from the bedroom, Now James aren’t you supposed to be bringing the cattle in, stop pestering your sister and get out to the gate before it gets too dark, her mother told him sternly. James sheepishly shook his head in acknowledgement before going out the back screen door. He just left behind the spilled food on the floor. Cecelia you will need to get that food up before someone slips on it and hurts themselves, her mother told her before turning to leave the kitchen. Cecelia shook her head in disbelief before reaching for a mop out of the pantry. Her mother in the meantime had gone back to  washing the family tribes’ clothing from the week before.

Savannah her cousin, who was the same age, came into the kitchen offering to help clean up the kitchen floor. I swear Savannah as soon as I can I am getting out of this place. I will not live my life like these common people, Cecelia growled under her breath. Savannah placed a comforting hand on her cousin’s shoulder, I know exactly what you mean I have to deal with my crazy family too, and cousin if you ever need a place to stay you know I will be there for you. A slight smile crossed Cecelia’s face, as the thought brought a brief moment of pleasantry from her dire situation. Come on I will help you finish up, then we can do each other’s hair for church tomorrow, Savannah offered. She gave Cecelia a big hug before gathering up the trash to take out to the burn pile. As she headed out the kitchen screen door she turned back and added, I have some great pink nail polish we can do each other’s nails too. Cecelia face broke out into a huge smile, I do not know what I would do without you Savannah, you are my sanity for sure.

Cecelia was tall and willowy unlike her mother, she had long platinum blonde hair. She certainly appeared to be more of a model than a farmer’s daughter. She was blessed with flawless features, which made many boys stop in their tracks when she entered a room. Women only wished they could have those Barbie doll features she was blessed with. Most of society had portrayed that a perfect woman was to be fashioned after the infamous doll. Cecelia however never believed she possessed any type of rare beauty. Her mother on the other hand was the exact opposite, short stocky and dark headed. Her mother was used to hard work, having been raised on a farm, she expected the same from each of her children. Her mother no matter how strict at times, did however love all her children unconditionally. She always welcomed her extended family to visit as often as they wished. She was a staunch believer in church and made sure all her children attended every Sunday. This included every social event the church had planned. Cecelia however felt resentment in having to clean up after all the visitors her mother allowed unlimited passage to every day. She resented the fact that her mother had so many children, as if it was her mother's fault for the creation of the torment it had brought into her life.

Cecelia promised herself that when she could get away from this household, she was going to have the type of status and prestige that was attributed to prominent southern women. She was ashamed of her mother who always looked like such a mess. Her mother was always dressed in dirty pants from working out in the garden or cooking for the household. It embarrassed her that her mother was not more stylish, why couldn’t she take the time to be more presentable in public? There was nothing feminine or prestigious about her mother. But Cecelia had also developed the idea that her father could have done better, and should not have married her mother. This was an idea her father’s relatives had planted into her head, she just could not see through their manipulative motives. Her father’s family had hoped if they could just get rid of her mother, then they would have a chance to control who inherited a portion of her parents’ farm.

The senior year of high school Cecelia met a boy, who came from a fairly well to do family. Harrison, who was a bit of a wild child. That made the attraction far more pleasing to Cecelia. In her mind it was a way to break free from the restrictive environment she was trapped in living on this farm. Since Harrison's family was very well to do, the objective of setting herself up in southern society was a sure thing in her mind. Harrison had some very revolutionary ideas though; this was part of the younger generations rebellious movements going on during the Vietnam war era. He also had some very new age beliefs about the big bang theory. This belief was enforced in his mind with the recent discovery of cosmic microwave background and radiation. This of course was totally opposite to what the bible taught about the creation of the universe. Cecelia found it refreshing that he was so learned on modern science. These subjects based on his beliefs in science was a modern outlook as far as she was concerned.  Religion to her had always been so restrictive of any freedom of thought or allowing any change in staunch rituals. It was just so outdated was what he would tell her.

I am going to take you away from all this drudgery, he confided in Cecelia. I have been introduced to a group of friends who belong to the MOBE movement, he told her one day in hushed tones at the school cafeteria. There is a huge demonstration protesting the war that is coming up in Chicago soon that I plan on attending, he continued. Oh, Harrison please take me with you, I want to be part of your movement. Our nation needs leaders like you, she assured him as she tucked her arm underneath his. You know you are my girl, he said placing his hand around her waist, I would never leave you behind. We will be part of the largest movement that our country has ever seen, he boasted. You are so smart Harrison, I can’t wait till we leave, when can we leave? she asked. I am working on the details, say didn’t you say you have a cousin named Savannah that lives up there?, he inquired. She nodded in response. Well, see what you can do about our going up there to stay after the end of the school year. That way we can work with my contacts on the plans for the protest that are going to take place at the start of the democratic convention, he advised. No problem, she and I have always been close, she may even know some of the friends you are meeting up with, she whispered in his ear. He hugged her closer, placing a small kiss on her cheek, You will always be my girl, he promised her. Cecilia sighed, she felt she had finally found her destiny.

Savannah and Cecelia corresponded over the next couple of months before the planned departure with Harrison. They kept their intentions secret so none of the family knew of their escape. When the two of them disappeared, everyone panicked trying to locate their where abouts. They of course were afraid that they had been kidnapped or killed. With all the changes going on in the country, people moving away from the small communities, disappearances became more common place. Savannah was a few years older than Cecelia so she already had an apartment located in the heart of downtown Chicago. Cecelia and Harrison told the family that they were going to the movies on a Friday night in July. With sleeping bags stowed away earlier in Harrison’s VW bus, they pooled their money together for gas to drive all night to Chicago. When she did not come home from the movies Cecelia’s mother started calling everyone she knew to try and locate her daughter. It was not until the next day after a sleepless night she finally heard from Savannah’s mother. Savannah's mother was her sister, she called to let her know she was safe. She told her that she had heard from Savannah's sister that Cecelia and Harrison had arrived late the night before. They both were now staying with Savannah at her apartment in the city. 

The protest had been arranged to occur in August, that year of 1968. The mayor at that time, Richard Daily, had been warned of the upcoming demonstration by radical groups that would gather to protest the war. He publicly vowed that law and order would be upheld against these rebellious hippies. Harrison’s group of friends had advised him that the beginning of the demonstration would be held in front of the Hilton Hotel, located downtown on Michigan Avenue. They arranged to meet a few streets over before entering the massive crowd gathered in front of the hotel. The plan was that Savannah, Cecelia, Harrison, along with several others would join them to publicly exercise their civil rights protesting the Vietnam war. This was the stage they needed to prove their beliefs to the world. Camera crews had gathered from all the local news stations, shouldered alongside the protestors as they clashed head on with the city police. They all began chanting in unison in front of live cameras as the world watched, The world is watching, beware the world is watching. It was not long before the crowd became agitated spiraling the peaceful demonstration out of control. Several protestors started climbing the statues located in the park across the street, throwing objects at the police lineup. The police began to feel that they were losing control of the situation with all the massive numbers of militants that were continuing to pour into the streets.

What ensued next was deemed by the world as a massive police riot once the violence broke out. Harrison had left Cecelia behind moving to the front of the crowd, as he was determined to have his voice heard. He pushed past the other protesters to where a line of officers stood with batons drawn in front of the hotel. The crowd had been warned several times to back away, but the massive pool of people kept pushing the crowd forward. An order was given to the police and the batons started flying at the heads of the protestors as the police attempted to push back against the crowd. The protestors fought back so the police then followed with throwing tear gas out into the crowd. Protestors were then being beaten to the ground, handcuffed, and dragged off to be prosecuted for disturbing the peace. Harrison was one of the unlucky ones grabbed by an officer as he fell to the ground, coughing from the gas.  He was then handcuffed and dragged off to jail with the others. Savannah and