Everyone says you never forget your first time.
I thought I would remember it because of the awkwardness.
The nervous laughter.
The clumsy moments.
The strange mix of excitement and fear.
I never imagined I would remember it because of hospital lights, blood-stained sheets, and the sound of nurses rushing around me.
But that is exactly what happened.
Only hours after what was supposed to be a meaningful milestone, I found myself lying on a hospital bed, shaking, crying, and terrified. My best friend stood beside me, trying to stay calm. A nurse gently told me to breathe. Another worked quickly to stop the bleeding that wouldn’t slow down.
Tears slipped down my face as reality sank in: something had gone very wrong.
Before that night, I believed what many young people believe — that pain and a little bleeding during your first time is “normal” and nothing to worry about. That it’s something you’re supposed to push through.
