When I was about nine, I found these shoes. Like I can see them plain as day. They were oxfords. Magenta with purple in the saddle part, stiff Kelly-green soles.The laces were sky-blue-and-white. My mother bought them for me even though I was probably going to grow out of them in five minutes.

Later that week I was wearing them and fell into a swampy pond.

Afterward, they looked just like Kerry Washington’s dress. Those are the colours of my sad shoes.

Like, all the usual caveats. Most beautiful woman on television, brightens every room she walks into, I miss her already even though Scandal is so completely crazy. But all I can think of looking at that pink and purple brocadey thing is the broken heart of a nine year old who wore her shoes into a pond.