It’s strange, writing these first words… After all this time a pen feels stiff and awkward in my hand.
-- Nell (n/a)

Importance: Here, Nell introduces herself and her sister, Eva, to the readers, and sets the stage for the book. The narrative will take the form of a notebook memoir of sorts. The story that Nell is about to recount is one that will be painful, but necessary, to write down. Whatever the story is, it has been a long time in coming, as Nell has not held a pen in her hands for a long time.

This morning I was so certain I would use this notebook for studying that I had to work to keep from scoffing at her suggestion.
-- Nell (n/a)

Importance: When Eva suggests that Nell use the notebook (which now forms the novel) as a way of writing about the present time, Eva is disdainful. She had imagined using the...