If it is true for you, it is true for someone else, and you are no longer alone.

Colson Whitehead’s 2019 novel “The Nickel Boys” alternates between two timelines: the 1960s, when protagonist Elwood Curtis is attending a racially segregated reform school in Florida, and the 2010s, when he and other former students are confronting their memories of the mistreatment they experienced there. As the former students share their stories, they realize this shared history is a form of community — and they are not alone in the hardships they faced and the pain it caused. This quote illustrates the power of sharing our experiences and truths, especially within the context of trauma and injustice. In moments of isolation or struggle, these connections can provide validation, comfort, strength, and clarity, forming a resilient bond.