Leaving Tennessee after buying a home to settle down in wasn’t a part of Laura Brown’s plan.

“It breaks my heart that I have to leave this place that I have grown up in and loved my whole life,” said Brown.

I am leaving Tennessee.

This place is my home. I grew up here, learning to ride horses and play music in the rolling hills around Nashville, boating on the TVA lakes in Celina and Gallatin, going to Opryland, and mentoring Girl Scouts at Camp Sycamore Hills. I am entirely educated by Tennessee schools. I am an alum of Brentwood High School, UTK, MTSU, and Vanderbilt. I have been able to reach a high degree of success and contentment here, in Tennessee. The place I call home.

Recent events mean that I cannot stay. I must flee.

Laura Brown is Tennessee born, raised and educated. The 34-year-old chief marketing officer grew up in Brentwood and has degrees from the University of Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University. She now lives in East Nashville.

But not for much longer.

“I can’t stay here,” she said. “I’m sick and heartbroken over it.”

In Tennessee, nearly all abortions will become illegal within a month. Although Brown has spent most of her life in the state, she doesn’t think she will call it home for much longer. Brown was already considering a move and Friday’s ruling cemented her resolve. “I cannot, in good conscience,” she said, “live in and contribute to a state that doesn’t recognize my right to make medical decisions for myself.”