Warning: This story contains sensitive subject matter that may not be suitable for all readers.

Zoey Anne Lesley

Against all odds I have made it to thirty five weeks, through all that has been thrown my way. Beer, wine, liquor; I've had to deal with all kinds of alcohol. Cocaine, heroin, acid, I've had to deal with all kinds of narcotics as well. Drugs and alcohol could not stop me it seems. Every one of those things has simply made me weaker. Fetal alcohol syndrome is inevitable and who knows what other kinds of abnormalities I may have. Growth has completely stopped, and I don’t know if I'm even big enough to be born. Heartbeats are irregular, and I don’t think my lungs are fully developed yet.

I'm excited to be born though. Just to be able to meet my mom, I'm sure she’s great. Kelly, that’s her name, has decided to call me Zoey Anne Lesley. Lesley is her last name. My dad doesn’t want me. No one seems to want me, except my mom. Only she and her mother, my grandmother, are excited that I am coming, but that’s enough for me. People to love me are great, no matter how many there are.

Quite an ordeal it is, getting ready to be born. Readying yourself to enter the world beyond the womb. Sometimes I get scared that it won’t happen, and I’ll never see the outside world. That’s crazy though, of course it'll happen; at least I desperately hope so. Under- developed lungs and other physical issues may cause me problems though. Vaccinations or pills can’t fix those kinds of problems. Walking might be impossible, let alone breathing. X-rays say my limbs aren’t growing properly, and my lungs are definitely not developed entirely. Young girls just don’t know what alcohol and drugs will do to someone like me. Zoey Anne Lesley may never live at all.