Dead Dead Girls Quotes

“She was so tired of him thinking he knew better than her because he had been gifted with a penis. She was so tired of him thinking he knew better than her because he was white.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“Louise realized that she should want more. That she should strive to get more out of life than the women who came before her, that she should want real freedom and to follow her dreams. In a world where women got so little and Black women got even less, she had to be better.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“You don’t have to save everyone. You’re working yourself to the bone. You need to eat and rest.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“She wasn’t drunk anymore. The feeling had dissipated and now she was left with worry. Worry was an old friend. Louise pictured them walking side by side, hand in hand. Worry comforted her. Louise would never be able to get rid of the worry.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“They were all whores. Just like you, Louise Lloyd. And just like that bitch Laura who left me.” His breath was hot against her ear. She tried to recoil, but the blade of the knife was angrily shining and so close to her neck. One quick swipe and it would be over for her.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“She never liked lying, especially to people in positions of power. But this was a necessary lie, and maybe necessary lies weren’t grave sins.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“I was kidnapped and you used me to expand your congregation.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“A city detective. In the largest and loudest den of sin in Harlem? I’ve never seen him there.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“Whatever small bit of compassion she had felt toward him dried up instantaneously. He could have helped them.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“This wasn’t who she wanted to be. Someone who snuck around, broke into places, snooped through other people’s things.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“Twenty-three years old, happily married with a child, and Minna was flawless. Louise didn’t fit. She didn’t fit into Joseph’s idea of a perfect family; she didn’t fit into the mold of who she was supposed to be. Seeing the twins—Celia was still clinging onto her—with their aunt and father proved that.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“Maybe the sense of family, the comforting warm blanket of being surrounded by people she had known since she was a baby, sitting in the evening heat, listening to her father speak.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“She would always try to fix her sister’s problems.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“Strict parents only made her a better liar too. It was easy to be angry at the person who had died, but Louise recognized the grief under the anger.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“Why was Celia so content with the life their father had set for them? There was a whole world out there. Endless possibilities. But trying to talk Celia out of this would make her even more determined. So all Louise could do was force a smile.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“Mr. Lister makes us fuck the men who come here. He keeps a list of clients.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“It sounded wonderful. But who in their right mind would rent to two women alone?”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“And she had been getting older and more tired. She realized one morning, about three and a half years ago, that her dreams had changed. She no longer wanted to be a dancing girl in the chorus. She had loved it until she didn’t.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“Here’s the situation, Miss Lloyd. I believe you are smart and courageous, and I would like to help foster that. So help me find who’s been killing these girls, and you’ll be free. Better yet, I’ll make sure there’s no record of you ever being arrested.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“No.” She was tired of having these types of men think they were better than her. She was tired of being treated like garbage because someone else decided she wasn’t worthy. The young girl looked scared.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls

“Her thoughts kept going to Detective Theodore Gilbert and just how distant he was. She was much too drunk, making it impossible to really process all of this.”
― Nekesa Afia, Dead Dead Girls