shouldn’t have talked back,” she finally says. “I feel—” She pauses, collects herself. “I feel really stupid.” “No, there’s nothing we could have done. It was always going to go that way.” “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” she says, her voice low, tight. I remember when my parents tried to tell me this, the only time in their miserable marriage they were ever united. It must be strange for every Black kid, when their principal authority figures break the news that authorities lie. Ironically, I didn’t believe them. I had to find it out for myself. “You’re not going to feel better
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