Books / abortion
An intimate account of abortion in Bristol
A new non-fiction piece published online is an intimate look at unplanned pregnancy, abortion and post-abortion.
A is for Asparagus is Kingsdown-based Cécile’s first literary release, and she hopes the piece will help to break the silence around women’s experiences of abortion.
Told through 27 diary entries with accompanying doodles, A is for Asparagus documents the first signs of pregnancy, through to the days that follow the termination, and a reflects on the experience two years on.
is needed now More than ever
“I have decided to share my story because I believe that there is still a long way to go to tackle stigma and taboo around abortion,” says Cécile.
Cécile, author of A is for Asparagus. Photo: Together and Sunspell
Cécile adds: “I believe that it is vital to break the taboo of the ‘thing that you shouldn’t talk about in public’, ‘the thing that you should keep to yourself’ and encourage women to free their voice from shame and guilt.”
Cécile had always written journals, so the project began without her realising, with the author saying: “The project started as it was happening; that’s May to July 2017.”
The diary entries turned from personal solace to a non-fiction piece in response to the threat for reproductive rights and the burden of shame and guilt when Cécile came across Clara Lalix’s Instagram account in May 2019.
Cécile was inspired by Clara Lalix’s experience. Photo: @claralalix on Twitter
“The narrator tells the story of her abortion as it is. It’s funny, dark at times, painful, but mostly it’s an honest account,” says Cécile. “As I read her words I cried tears of relief.
“That was two year after my termination of pregnancy. I suddenly felt the urge to share my story, hoping that if there is someone out there who is going through a tough time, my piece of writing might one day bring help, relief and encouragement, just like Clara Lalix’s story did for me.”
The project was released online on May 1, 2020, exactly three years ago after the first diary entry.
One of the diary entry’s accompanying doodles. Photo: Cécile/A is for Asparagus
“I now understand that the project also came about as a way to find some sort of closure; it’s certainly been cathartic,” Cécile adds.
“It’s about time to put an end to shaming and to free our voices.”
Find out more at www.aisforasparagus.com
Main photo: Cécile/A is for Asparagus
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