I turn to Ms. Ofrah. “When I was ten, I saw my other best friend get murdered in a drive-by.” Funny how murdered comes out easily now. “Oh.” Ms. Ofrah sinks back. “I didn’t— I’m so sorry, Starr.” I stare at my fingers and fumble with them. Tears well in my eyes. “I’ve tried to forget it, but I remember everything. The shots, the look on Natasha’s face. They never caught the person who did it. I guess it didn’t matter enough. But it did matter. She mattered.” I look at Ms. Ofrah, but I can barely see her for all the tears. “And I want everyone to know that Khalil mattered too.”
