Speak: Part 3, Chapter 8 Summary & Analysis

On Valentine’s Day, Melinda sees various displays of affection, and remembers the different phases of Valentine’s Day (from elementary school to middle school to high school). At school, she finds a valentine on her locker; at first she believes that it’s a prank; then she worries that it’s from Andy; last, she wonders if it’s from David Petrakis. Unable to even open the envelope because she’s so confused and nervous, she walks away from her locker.

As Ms. Keen teaches a class about the literal birds and bees, Melinda frantically wonders whether David has sent her the card. She chews her thumbnail so hard that she begins bleeding. As David passes her a tissue to blot the blood, Melinda notes that it doesn’t even hurt. All that hurts is seeing other people flirting in the classroom, their “small smiles and blushes” flashing “like tiny sparrows.”

Melinda writes a note that says “‘Thanks!’” to David. “‘You are welcome,’” he writes back. It is unclear if these notes refer to the valentine or to the tissue. As class continues, David and Melinda begin to draw a picture of Ms. Keen as a bird (a robin) together. Melinda tries to make a tree for the bird, and is pleased with the results. When David’s hand brushes hers at the end of class, however, Melinda rushes out of the room, terrified about the card.

At last mustering up her courage, Melinda opens the card, calling it “a white patch of hope”; it is from Heather to thank her for understanding their friendship breakup. She has included in the envelope the friendship necklace that Melinda decided to get for her for Christmas. Melinda begins to have a panic attack; she hears “a cracking inside me,” rushing to her closet, biting her own wrist, hitting her head against the wall, and sobbing. She has no friends, “not even a silly, geeky boy who would like the inside girl I think I am.”