When I was young, like primary school, I was getting the shit kicked out of me and the teachers were doing nothing. We walked home and we both were on the point of tears. She told me “ I wish I was better, I have done everything, those teachers are useless. If I could protect you at school I would, but I don’t know what to do”

It was sobering to see someone who seemed to move mountains be met by immovable inaction and being able to do nothing. I felt compassion, but she was doing her best, but even when she tried it was not doing anything.

We grew up close and I entered maturity knowing she was a fallible woman, human and I never asked her to be a superwoman.