Secrets of a Charmed Life

Julia writes to Emmy on June 8, 1958, telling her that her therapist Dr. Diamant has encouraged her to keep a journal and write letters to Emmy to help her move on from her grief. She finds this wording amusing because she realizes how little control she has over life circumstances. She likes Dr. Diamant, who has been helping her and was brought to her by her boyfriend Simon, with whom she is in love. Her first therapist Dr. Nielsen forced her to relive her separation from Emmy, which worsened her trauma and selective mutism. Another therapist, Dr. Hunt, was more helpful and got her to speak a little more. Her speech also improved after arguing with her grandmother about returning to England. They moved from Connecticut to Woodstock, and Julia soon started speaking fluently again.

On June 11, Julia reveals that she has visited their old neighborhood and knows how their mother and Neville died. Julia says that her grandparents found her after learning about her and her location from Neville. After learning her mother died, they took her to America. She notes that she has been looking for Emmy but has not yet found her. She apologizes for hiding the brides box and wishes she could undo what she did.