What’s the difference?
By Tom Quiner
Monday, 8:42 AM
Mary’s stomach was tied up in a knot.
She had made a profoundly important decision. She tried not to think about what was next as she turned onto Army Post Road and headed to the abortion clinic.
Traffic was heavy. So was her heart.
“Am I doing the right thing?” she asked herself. “Yes … yes, this really is what I should be doing. There’s no question in my mind” she said to her unconvinced conscience.
Her car was a junker. School was so expensive, she just couldn’t stay ahead of her expenses. And yet she saw light at the end of the tunnel. “Once I get that degree and my first job, the sky is the limit!” Someday I can afford motherhood, just not today.
***
Sheila was late for work.
She cursed the Thursday morning traffic. “Why is it always so heavy when I’m running late?” she grumbled under her breath.
Sheila enjoyed a good life. Nice cars. A beautiful house. Two kids. A husband with a good job. Coupled with her own substantial income as an abortion provider, they were considered to be rich by many.
But she was so busy.
She gave her Lexus a little gas as she sped along Southwest 9th Street. A multi tasker, Sheila called the office to confirm appointments and the rest of her day’s schedule. The news wasn’t good. She was jammed that morning and absolutely could not afford to be late.
What happened next could only be called good fortune by the unsuspecting doctor.
In her state of distraction, Sheila didn’t notice the red light as she approached her turn. But at the last moment, a garbage truck pulled in front of her, forcing Sheila to slam on her brakes.
Sheila avoided a certain accident. Who knows what the damage might have been to herself and another driver?
Sheila pulled into work just in time to meet her first appointment for the day, a young woman named Mary.
Mary’s abortion was performed efficiently by Sheila. Mary paid Sheila for her services.
***
Tuesday, 8:56 AM
Susan’s stomach was tied up in a knot.
She had made a profoundly important decision. She tried not to think about what was next as she turned onto Army Post Road near the airport.
Traffic was heavy. So was her heart.
“Am I doing the right thing?” she asked herself. “Yes … yes, this really is what I should be doing. There’s no question in my mind” she said to her unconvinced conscience.
Her car was a junker. School was so expensive, she just couldn’t stay ahead of her expenses. And yet she saw light at the end of the tunnel. “Once I get that degree and my first job, the sky is the limit!”
***
Sheila was late for work.
She cursed the Thursday morning traffic. “Why is it always so heavy when I’m running late?” she grumbled under her breath.
Sheila enjoyed a good life. Nice cars. A beautiful house. Two kids. A husband with a good job. Coupled with her own doctor’s income, they were considered to be rich by many.
But she was so busy.
She gave her Lexus a little gas as she sped along Southwest 9th Street. A multi tasker, Sheila called the office to confirm appointments and the rest of her day’s schedule. The news wasn’t good. She was jammed that morning and absolutely could not afford to be late.
What happened next was one of life’s inexplicable tragedies.
In her state of distraction, Sheila ran the red light as she turned onto Army Post Road. She broadsided Susan’s vehicle. The damage went beyond totaling a clunker. She injured the pregnant Susan.
And Susan lost her baby.
According to the laws of their state, Sheila was convicted of vehicular homicide. She lost her license to practice medicine and served jail time.
***
A baby died on Monday and Sheila was handsomely paid.
A baby died on Tuesday and Sheila went to jail.
What’s the difference?
