I met Virginia in 1996. She was 22 and I was 28. We shared similar social concerns, with the formal difference of her socialist militancy. Abortion was one of the few issues of disagreement, perhaps the only one. Years went by. Fourteen. When I called her on her birthday, she was overjoyed at her pregnancy. Months later, the diagnosis revealed malformations of the utmost seriousness. She miscarried. Deciding was very hard.

Last March, on plenary session of the Executive Council discussion social on the new law for this old and sad reality, Professor Jutta Burggraf and I published To be and to seem defenders of life. In short, we tried to avoid abortions by trying to do good (life), by not forcing anyone to do good, by committing ourselves to the love that pulls out of wells... and by recognizing that it can happen to anyone. That same day I received this sms: "A article like the one you have written comforts and gives impulse. A big hug. Virginia". I replied that, if she wanted, I would be happy to listen to her. So it was, that same afternoon, for almost three hours. I understood better what it means to understand because, if half of her misfortunes had happened to me, I would probably have done the same: solve a drama with a tragedy.

Decisive debates such as the one on life undermine its argumentative basis and increase its emotional height. Hardly anyone today disputes what science says, let alone what one's own conscience whispers. Along with the efforts of so many people who offer valuable political, legal, scientific, social, etc. contributions, there is also room for an emotional approach.

Sabina sings in Noches de boda a delicious poetry that injects energy into the hackneyed prose about life: "May the makeup not turn off your laughter, may the luggage not weigh down your wings (...), may I want to win the war of I can, (...) may those who kill die of fear (...), may the end of the world catch you dancing (...). May the end of the world catch you dancing (...). May the heart not go out of fashion (...). May truths have no complexes, may lies seem like lies (...). May you not be taken care of by helplessness (...), may being brave not be so expensive, may being a coward not be worth it. May they not buy you for less than nothing, may they not sell you love without thorns, may they not lull you to sleep with fairy tales, may they not close the cafeteria on the corner". I subscribe to everything and -for those of us who try to be and look like Catholics- I would add a verb and a noun that can be reconciled with the original version: dancing-praying and cafeteria-church.

With a different style, Axel sings in Celebra la vida: "Think freely, financial aid to people and fight for what you want and be patient. Carry little burden, don't cling to anything because in this world nothing is forever (...) And if someone cheats you by saying 'I love you', put more wood on the fire and start again. Don't let your dreams fall to the ground, the more you love the closer heaven is. Shout against hate, against lies, that war is death and peace is life (...). Celebrate life and leave in the earth your best seed. Celebrate life, which is much more beautiful when you look at me".

We all need a look and a you. In addition to songs, there are books overflowing with tenderness, understanding, affection and forgiveness. A fashionable classic: the Gospel. At heart, it is a love story that sample, among other things, how forgiveness does not change the past, but it does change the future. There is life after abortion. Virginia knows it.