Cristina’s unwavering commitment to her career helped me articulate to those around me that putting myself first is far from a selfish pursuit.

The inevitability of marriage and maternity clings to societal perception, fuelled by patriarchy and language that seeks to accuse and/or consistently disrespect a person’s choice to remain childless.

If I were to end up conceiving, I would terminate the pregnancy as that was something I was not ready for. I was confident in this choice however, as resolute as I was, nothing could prepare me mentally or physically for the multiple invasions I was going to experience.