Alone again, Deven reached in her purse. Her fingers grazed the spirals of a notebook and she pulled Kennedy’s diary into view. She used the edge of the book to dig into the damp earth, creating a makeshift hole. Then she placed the diary inside and covered it, leaving only a lilac corner peeking through. “To taking secrets to the grave,” Deven murmured, kissing her fingertips and touching the tiny, new mound of earth. Then she rose and started the trek back to the parking lot.

On her way by a trash bin, Deven reached in her purse again for the other item she’d brought along. Her own diary with its single entry. Deven flipping the cover open and ripped the page from its spiral binding. She tossed the book in the trash, then tore the loose-leaf paper again, and again, and again, until it was nothing more than shreds with a jumble of cruel words and even crueler intentions. But like her feelings, she lifted the papers in the sky and released them, letting them billow away to get lost in the clouds.

Epilogue

Epilogue

Excerpt from the diary of Deven (Age 13)

My dad got me and my sister this diary and I guess I have to write in it now. This is stupid. But if it’ll make him happy, I guess I can do it. Where do I start? Um . . . I’m supposed to be asleep because my sister’s 12th birthday is tomorrow and she’s having this big party this weekend. I’m really not excited about it. I mean, I like Kennedy and all but sometimes she’s just in the way. I overheard my dad mention how it was because of her that my mom wouldn’t get back with him. Like, I know she loves Kennedy and all, that’s her daughter. But she was honestly a mistake. My parents don’t think I know this, but Kennedy is a “break baby.” My mom made a mistake while she and my daddy were on a time-out, she got with Kennedy’s dad and got pregnant. Now my parents are trying to work it out, but my mom’s mistake keeps them arguing. And I know it’s because my dad looks at Kennedy and sees her daddy. She doesn’t even look like us. I mean I don’t hate her or anything. I just don’t like her. And I wish she would just go away. It’s funny because she really sits up and cries because she thinks Mommy doesn’t love her or something and I just laugh and tell her she’s right. Because she’s stupid if she thinks Mommy doesn’t love her. She’s the baby of COURSE Mommy does. So if she wants to believe that, I’ll let her. I may have even lied on Mommy a few times so Kennedy would believe it. She’s so dumb honestly.