By Madison Marzullo
Madison Marzullo is a senior at Elk County Catholic High School who is very passionate about her faith and beliefs, especially when it comes to defending the preborn. This poem recently won 1st place in a pro-life writing competition held at her school. We are reprinting this beautiful and thought-provoking poem here not only to inspire but to help people understand that there are other options and that life does go on.
March; the two blue lines on the gray-hued screen on the small, white stick
the cold, tiled floor of the dorm’s community bathroom decorating her bare feet
the initial heart drop, the shock, the fear
only 21 years old
it seems nearly impossible
but life goes on
April; thoughts have drowned her, as if she has been thrown around like dust
the announcement turns her parents loving, her partner into denial
she loves him, she does not want to be alone
he just wants to play baseball, he has no time
she has so much work to do for her education
it seems nearly impossible
but life goes on
May; it has progressed, the situation is official
she cannot bring herself to leave
all he wants to do is run through the bases, it is all he knows how to do
one is 20, the other is 21
it seems nearly impossible
but life goes on
June; the summer heat makes her sweat, as does her situation
his arms swell from the weights, using frustration as his motivation
she loves him, the baseball boy
he is confused, the plan simply cannot go through
it seems nearly impossible
but life goes on
July; the last month she had promised herself she would get it done
he begs, mercifully, how would he manage?
this month would be deciding factor; whom will she choose?
her parents, supporting her to choose her situation,
him, supporting her to choose a restart
the choice
it seems nearly impossible
but life goes on
August; she started buying clothes, decorations, asking family for support
he’s been at practice, asking his dad for guidance
they are both feeling lost
the girl and the baseball boy
it seems nearly impossible
but life goes on
September; she has grown, significantly
he feels the movements and sees the photographs
the situation is real
she begins to let tears stroll down her gentle, flushed cheeks
he begins to hold her hand and caress her forehead, for the first time in awhile
it seems nearly impossible
but life goes on
October; the final two months, the moment is near
she is stressfully writing papers while swallowing vitamins
he is working out his financial situations
they are both becoming responsible
it’s beginning to seem possible
life has gone on
November; the nursery is ready, the items are bought
she has packed a bag, full of items to celebrate what is coming
he knows the event is near, so he decorates her finger with a diamond
they have come together, slowly
it is possible now
life has gone on
December; the snow has fallen and the yellow-tinted street lights show through the darkness
it is the 26th day of the month, the year 2004
he holds her hand and wipes her tears
she is exhausted, but her decision is final
she is here
her baby girl is born
it wasn’t impossible, it was done
life went on
her baby girl’s life went on
October 2022; her baby girl writes a poem, dedicated to her mother’s courage and strength
she talks about her mother and father: the girl and the baseball player
who had chosen to let her have life
her baby girl is an athlete, a friend, a scholar, a lover, a person
it is always possible
life will always go on
life should always go on.
the baby girl who was given the chance of life