Hannah returns to her room with the diary.
And tips a chair under the doorknob for good measure.
She opens the diary to the flyleaf and sees a name:
Allison
It’s my first day at boarding school.
Allison
I wish I could have stayed home
Allison
I wanted to go to the local high school with Bernadette.
Allison
But Mother says that no one in the Pynchon family has ever gone to a public school.
Allison
And she doesn’t want to start with me.
Allison
She doesn’t care about what I want.
Allison
All she cares about is her business.
The entries are sporadic across three years.
But one particular day is highlighted, when Allison meets a boy…
Allison
It sounds like such a cliché.
Allison
But I think I’m in love!
Allison
It all happened when I was on the main commons.
Allison
I tripped, and there he was.
Allison
Holding out his hand
Allison
When I touched his hand, I felt something...
Allison
A kind of electricity.
Allison
He walked me to class.
Allison
And asked for my number.
Allison
His name is Mark.
Allison
And he wants to see me tonight.
Allison
Tonight, Mark and I went for a walk on the commons.
Allison
We held hands and kissed at the place where we first met.
Allison
It was so romantic that he remembered the exact spot…
Allison
And was like a fairy tale when he told me he loves me.
Allison
He said he’s wanted to tell me that for two months.
Allison
I’ve been bursting to tell him that I love him too.
Allison
But I wanted him to go first.
Allison
It felt so wonderful to say the words.
Allison
I’m no longer a virgin.
Allison
It wasn’t exactly the stuff of romance novels.
Allison
It was his first time, too.
Allison
It hurt and was a little bit awkward…
Allison
But it was tender, too.
Allison
I love Mark, and he loves me.
Allison
And I know it will only get better.
Allison
This is not an April Fool’s Day joke.
Allison
I’m not telling Mother or Mark anything about this.
Allison
Mother would consider it a disgrace.
Allison
I broke it off with Mark.
Allison
I do love him, but…
Allison
His parents have his life all planned out for him.
Allison
I really think they might disown him if they found out.
Allison
And I’m having the baby.
Allison
I want to give this child a chance to have the kind of love I never had.
Allison
Today I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl.
Allison
I’m with Diana, my roommate from school.
Allison
I stayed with her family all summer.
Allison
No one else knows anything.
Allison
Except for Bernadette, of course.
Allison
She promised to keep the secret.
Allison
And I know she will.
Allison
Diana’s parents said they found a wonderful family for my baby girl.
Allison
The mother is a teacher.
Allison
And the father is a construction worker.
Allison
I don’t want them to know who I am.
Allison
I had only one request.
Allison
That my girl’s new parents give her the name I chose for her.
