When I was writing for an online magazine nearly 9 years ago, the numbers of young, black girls missing was staggering. What was even more heartbreaking was that the searches for them ended so much sooner. A mother of a young one who went missing commented on that article. She said she typed through the tears.

I read her comment and lost my ability to think for the rest of the day. I was completely done, could not write, could not go on. All I wanted to do was help her and bring her baby back, I could not. That was the help she needed. That was all she wanted, the return of her child to her alive and well.

That did not happen.