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.

A man standing outside the deli turned to watch.

A woman waiting near the bus stop lifted her phone halfway before lowering it again, unsure whether she should get involved.

Officer Cole took another step toward us.

“You match the description of two suspects involved in a theft.”

I stared at him.

“We’re sixteen,” I said. “We were buying notebooks.”

“Hands behind your backs. Now.”

The fear hit my chest so fast it felt painful.

“We didn’t do anything.”

It didn’t matter.