" I Was Granted A Wish On Valentines Day 43 Years ago"

Every February 14, across the country; celebrate and exchange candy, flowers, gifts and cards in the name of St.Valentine, unfortunate for me Valentines only holds one;very important and happy aspect for me. I have never really had a favorable association with Valentines day; because the people I was involved with, wasn't into Valentines day: because it was a pagan holiday and we try not to celebrate them. I got one box of chocolate; 0nce and it was only when I was seventeen and pregnant, I made the request and he did honor my request; but he also told me to cherish that box of candy because I wouldn't see anymore and I did exactly that. He was true to his word because I was married to him ten years and I divorced him; and he never bought me another box of candy, or cards or even flowers for that matter, but that was okay. I made the biggest mistake of my life; by getting pregnant at a very young age,but sometimes things like that happen: specially, if you don't know what you're doing and let anyone talk you into it. The thought of boys and sex was not a good topic for me, because it scared me to death. But as I got older,and watched other young people together, I wanted a relationship with a young man; minus the sex part of it,but that wasn't an option for me. Only because I was hounded all the time having sex.... and one day I did it against my better judgement so he would leave me alone.

What I didn't know at the time; that it would be an on going thing, so after the first encounter I stopped it.....but unknown to me I was already pregnant. I didn't know for sure, but m y clothes started getting really tight. my cycle was always late, or didn't show up at all, but I knew I was okay, because I was still a virgin but after three months my m other came to me and told me I was pregnant and that was the worse day of my life because I failed my parent but most of all I failed myself. I felt so dirty and worthless and didn't even enjoy sex, but I thank God for my mother because she said we all make mistake, hopefully I would learn from my mistake and not repeat it. My mom was very understanding and she didn't rub salt in my wound. She assured me that it would be tight, but alright, abortion never came up because it wasn't an option. I made a Gyn appointment with the doctor,and went to get prenatal vitamins, that was when the nurse informed me that m y baby would be born on the 13th of February and I pouted for a moment and said,I wish she be born on Valentines day. God did blessed me to get my wish; but I had to suffer the consequences through days of hard labor. My labor pains started on the 12 th of February at 3 o'clock AM, when I thought it was just a bad stomachache. After the pain kept going and coming my mom told me That I was in labor and I need to wash up and put on some clothes to go the hospital. The Doctor check me and told my mom I was in labor and that I was only three centimeter,when I needed to be eight in order to deliver the baby.

I hurt so long and hard that all the fear I that I had, had left me , and just wanted it over like yesterday. I didn't know that by tighten my body muscles, I was fighting against my labor, causing it to last longer, instead came of going with the flow, so i was in hard labor for two whole days and I was so tired that when when February 14 at 1:52 AM to deliver m y daughter.....I was to tired to push almost, but I muster up enough strength to birth my daughter. She weigh 7 pds.14 oz. and I named her Carolyn Latrice, that was the best Valentines gift anyone could ever have. She was a divine blessing in an unusual circumstances and she still a blessing now. She a nurse and mother of two, and will soon have her first grandson by her son. She also sweet, beautiful and a very spiritual young women , who have had of share of ups and downs... but I truly thank God for her. So, you see, I didn't get cards, candy or even flowers on Valentines Day; but I got the most precious gift of all; the gift of life for my daughter on Valentines Day.

Benny Faye Douoglass