The Officer Said It Was Just a Traffic Stop. Minutes Later, My Twin Sister and I Were in Handcuffs. Then an SUV Pulled Up, My Mother Stepped Out, and the Entire Situation Turned Upside Down.

The same growing fear.

“Is something wrong, Officer?” I asked.

He ignored the question completely.

Instead, his eyes locked onto the bags we were carrying.

“Where’d you get those?”

“The bookstore and Target,” Tessa answered. “We have the receipts.”

“Hands where I can see them.”

They already were.

Neither of us had moved.

Around us, people began slowing down.