I joined the military right out of high school, I wanted out of my town. I went through the physical and was told I would never be able to carry a pregnancy to term, I would be lucky if I carried to the 2nd trimester. I decided to go on and go through bootcamp and do my time.

I got to my first duty station and was playing pool with a couple of new friends when in walked this guy that was semi decent looking. So I gave the guy a chance. That was my first big mistake. After about a year of dating we split. I moved on and dated around. At the time I thought I had a pretty good boyfriend (turns out that he too was married and had 3 children in another state). I was working and got called to go work with the first guy I dated there, he didn't need help at all. I walked into a trap, he raped me that day.

I filed a report but it didn't go anywhere because of his rank and my rank, and him working with security. Little known to me, I got pregnant. I thought the baby was the other guys I had been seeing at the time. After many, many hours spent with a psychologist and crying, I decided what to do. I would keep my baby and raise the child to be the best they could be. I didn't know if I would have a child, but on December 9th I was blessed with a beautiful little boy. Who is the son of my rapist.

I love him with all my heart, I do not hold what his "sperm donor" did against him. In fact the guy still has the guts to call me sometimes. I moved on. I got a new duty station, I am still in the military supporting myself and my son, and I recently started dating again. I have come to realize that not all men are bad, we just make men pay for the mistakes of a few.

I have started over, I'm working full time, being a single mother from day one, and I am working on my nursing degree and paramedics license. I use what happened to me as a wonderful learning experience. It opened my eyes. I love myself, just as much as I love my son. I don't allow petty things to bring me down anymore, and I am proof that no matter how many men abuse you, use you, or mistreat you, you can and will live through it.

-- Suzie P