I saw a little Black girl today with skin that was so deeply beautiful. It looked a little shiny like she had been playing outside, like little girls do.
I said hello to her and she smiled at me with chubby cheeks, lips pressed together. She had a presence that my mother would describe as “Here I am, I have arrived”.
When I told her she was beautiful, she looked surprised as if either no one had ever told her that or she didn’t believe me.
Broke my heart a little.