Everybody knew. Nobody admitted to knowing. If other people began to discuss it, you tuned them out, because what they were saying was both so obvious and so unthinkable.
This quote highlights a shared understanding within a community about a troubling reality that is widely recognized yet rarely acknowledged. Everyone is aware of the underlying truth, yet social norms prevent them from openly discussing it. This creates an atmosphere of silence, where individuals choose to ignore the obvious to maintain a sense of normalcy.
The tension between knowing and speaking out reflects the complex dynamics of societal interactions, where confronting...