Almost Surely Dead

by Amina Akhtar

How do you grieve someone who hated you? I wasn’t sure how to, but I was trying.

I wanted to like her, but she was the police. I was a brown woman living in the US. Trusting the police was a luxury I couldn’t afford.

“Your mother loves you! Sometimes grown-ups get stressed out, and we seem angry. But we’re not. You’re the most lovable girl ever!”

Making excuses teaches kids to accept mistreament from others :(

Petty. Jealous. Controlling. Like I’d exchanged my family for a man who behaved just like them.

That's what happens.

I didn’t mean to be rude, but I needed to think. And I couldn’t deal with anyone else’s feelings right now.

“He’s just being a boy. That’s how they are. He probably likes you. Come on, be a good girl now.”

In every culture...

What was it called when you dreamed up the same arguments and fights you had with your mother your entire life?

I would like to know this too.

we met at my office one time.

You literally just said you never met.

Liz and I would have a whole five days before then to hang out and relax. “You’ll love my place!” Liz said as we got

How do they still trust her at this point?

somnambulism.