![Excerpt from Novel MERCY STREET
[T]he latecomers cracked [Claudia] open. In Massachusetts, AB was illegal after twenty-four weeks. When a patient terminated at the last minute, it was usually because she'd gotten ominous test results: a fetal brain tumor, a mass in the lung.
The latecomers were impossible to counsel, because they didn't want ABs. They wanted babies. They were pregnant by choice; some had gone to great lengths, and considerable expense, to get that way. Many were over forty, painfully aware that this was their last chance. By the time Claudia met them, they were mortally exhausted, like prisoners who'd been waterboarded. Some wept. Others were catatonic. A few were incandescently angry.
None of these reactions surprised her. She was meeting them on the worst fucking day of their lives.
By week twenty-three, names had been chosen, cribs purchased, baby showers planned.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:dgf37ct7ds4kcxhwbarnkmtf/bafkreibf6gbl7jfhcfmfdjovnbqf37ufyjslm7l7a5rfc3fo7ymzki7mna)
Excerpt from Novel MERCY STREET [T]he latecomers cracked [Claudia] open. In Massachusetts, AB was illegal after twenty-four weeks. When a patient terminated at the last minute, it was usually because she'd gotten ominous test results: a fetal brain tumor, a mass in the lung. The latecomers were impossible to counsel, because they didn't want ABs. They wanted babies. They were pregnant by choice; some had gone to great lengths, and considerable expense, to get that way. Many were over forty, painfully aware that this was their last chance. By the time Claudia met them, they were mortally exhausted, like prisoners who'd been waterboarded. Some wept. Others were catatonic. A few were incandescently angry. None of these reactions surprised her. She was meeting them on the worst fucking day of their lives. By week twenty-three, names had been chosen, cribs purchased, baby showers planned.
Listening to @pasenatorcappelletti.com speak at the #PeoplesRally reminded me of this passage from Mercy Street #booksky
