The people we were died at the exact moment our child did.

By Danielle Crittenden

From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠May 2026 issue⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you ⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news: ⁠⁠http://theatlantic.com/listen

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices