The book lay in her lap, closed, the place most likely lost.
'Not alone' That phrase held mixed feelings for her. She wasn't alone at Bates High school, or at home, but she would've rather felt alone than face the other students or even worse-her own mother.
Here, she had a friend ( even friends), she could actually live here instead of just existing.
Did she ever love me? the question scared her because it meant an answer. But she had to know, did her mother ever love her, or did she always see her as a Being she was forced to put up with until she died?