Thirteen Reasons Why

Hannah gives up on herself. Clay thinks that Hannah’s resentment and recrimination have disappeared and that her mind is made up. Hannah contemplates how to die by suicide. She does not have a gun, and she does not want to hang herself and have her parents find her. Hannah warns her listeners not to tell her parents the truth if they think she died accidentally. Hannah decides to take pills, and wonders what kind and how many. She plans to die the next day. Clay knows Hannah died from an overdose, but there were additional rumors speculating that she drew a bath and passed out and drowned in it, or died before she got in the bath and the bathroom flooded.

Hannah envisions her last day alive: mailing the tapes to Justin Foley and going to school, conscious that it is her last day even though others are unaware. She wonders what final things people will do and say to her. Clay believes that he must have smiled, because he has tried smiling at her every day since the party. Clay realizes that the last things they said to each other were “I’m sorry” when they bumped into each other in the hall. He recalls Hannah’s fingernails were painted blue as she walked down the hall away from him.

On one of her last weekends alive, Hannah house-sits for a family friend. There is a loud party nearby at Courtney Crimson’s house. Hannah turns up the bedroom television to drown out the music. She cries, feeling like she was again hiding in the closet at the other party. After the party ends, Hannah goes for a walk to see if any intoxicated partygoers need a ride.

At Courtney’s house, Bryce calls to her over the fence. He and Courtney are relaxing in the hot tub in their underwear. He invites her over. Hannah knows she should not go because Bryce treats girls terribly. Hannah decides to join them. Clay thinks this was a self-destructive act.

Hannah, though she does not trust Bryce or Courtney, strips to her underwear and gets in the hot tub. Bryce moves next to her and touches her leg. Courtney first closes her eyes, then leaves. Listening, Clay violently grabs a rusty fence and cuts his hands. Bryce’s hand moves around Hannah’s breasts, her belly, and lower. He fingers her. Hannah says she is “done fighting” and does not try to stop him. Hannah has always fought against her false reputation but now deliberately gives in to it. Although Bryce disgusts her and she cries and tightens her jaw, she allows Bryce to have sex with her so that she can erase herself. When Bryce is finished, Hannah leaves.

Clay goes to a gas station, purchases alcohol and band aids, and painfully cleans his cut fingers.

Clay plans to spend the night in Eisenhower Park. He climbs up the rocket slide where Hannah’s story first began.

Hannah makes one last effort to get help, knowing that she cannot solve her problems by herself. She talks to Mr. Porter, her English teacher and guidance counselor. Hannah tapes her conversation with Mr. Porter. Clay panics: he does not want Mr. Porter knowing about him or anyone else on the tapes.

Hannah confides that she feels “empty” inside. Hannah says that she has no friends, and it is difficult for her to even talk to him. When Mr. Porter asks what she wants to change about her life, Hannah declares that she “[needs] everything to stop. People. Life” (272). Mr. Porter recognizes the seriousness of this comment. Hannah says it is hard for her to be constantly on guard and wondering who is going to “get [her] next” (274).

Clay shouts at Mr. Porter to help Hannah, and shouts at Hannah to tell him the truth. He sticks his head through the bars in the rocket ship until it hurts.

Hannah explains that rumors from years ago continue to impact her life. Hannah describes an event after a party involving a boy. Mr. Porter learns that while no alcohol or drugs were involved on her part, something happened that she regrets. Hannah does not think it was rape, because of “circumstances.” Mr. Porter asks if she wants to press charges, and when Hannah says no, he asks what she wants to happen. When Hannah hopefully asks what her options are, Mr. Porter lists two, since she will not press charges: confront the boy with Mr. Porter mediating their meeting, or “move on.” Hannah thinks “moving on” means doing nothing. Hannah rushes to leave. Mr. Porter urges her to stay, but Hannah says she needs to “get on with it” (279). Mr. Porter does not follow her. Hannah believes that she was transparent in her intent and has learned that no one cares enough about her to stop her from ending her life. She apologizes and turns off the recorder. Clay cries but is also angry because he did not understand what she was going through and would have helped her.

Clay lets the tape flip over and continue playing. He closes his eyes and listens to the static and feels the night breeze. He finally starts to relax. He hears another click over the headphones. Hannah’s voice says, “Thank you.”

Exhausted and sore, Clay does not want to go to school the next day but realizes that he will have to face everyone else from the tapes sometime. Clay is late to school because he mails the tapes to Jenny—knowing they will permanently alter her life—and because he does not want to go to English class and see Mr. Porter or Hannah’s empty seat. Clay regrets that he did not know Hannah’s feelings toward him and regrets believing rumors about her. He lost all his chances to know Hannah.

At his locker outside Mr. Porter’s room, Clay remembers seeing Hannah for the last time. A boy comes out of class, bumps into Skye Miller, and greets Clay. Skye murmurs an apology; the boy ignores her. Skye catches Clay’s eye but keeps walking. Clay remembers seeing her on the bus the night before and how he was going to talk to her, but how she keeps away from people. Clay wants to ignore Skye now but sees a parallel between Skye and Hannah walking away from him. He goes after Skye. Clay feels painful mixed emotions, but also feels hopeful. He calls Skye’s name.