It is Meg's wedding day! We have all been waiting for it so long. Mr. Brooke went to war and was hurt, and we were all so anxious for him, especially Meg. She hardly ate or slept for days and became so very pale, and we were all worried about her. Now she looks so happy and so beautiful. A few people are coming now. I cannot remember their names, but I know the lady used to be close friends with Meg. Meg once stayed with her for a few days, and I suppose something must have happened between them then, because she was not quite herself afterwards, and they were not so close anymore. They are dressed in the newest fashions, but they do not look half as happy as she does. It is funny, really, and a little sad, that Meg and Mr. Brooke, who is by no means rich, can be so happy, while these people cannot.
Something quite extraordinary has happened. Laurie has gone away. Jo seems quite upset. It is a shame they could not be happy together, but like Mother says, they may be good friends, but as husband and wife they should disagree far too much. I am beginning to think that Amy would be a very good match for him. She is so much grown up now. Since I was sick, she has changed. She does not waste time or put on airs anymore, and she no longer sees playing games as childish. She is also very generous and pretty and good-tempered, and I am sure anyone would love to have her.
Sometimes I think about the future. My future. What can it hold in store for one so small and insignificant as myself? I have no special talents. I cannot write like Jo or draw like Amy.
Jo has gone away again. She went to be a governess in the city, and now she returns to be a writer. With so many people leaving, I am beginning to feel very lonely.
Jo is back. She has written many stories but says they were all very bad and she will not write more like them. She offers to pay for Mother and me to take a trip to the beach, but Mother does not feel like it now, so we will go together. The way she looks at me now is very strange. I hope she has not noticed… I am losing hope. I am tired all the time now. Before Jo went away, I was trying to deny it, trying to believe I was wrong and everything was fine, but I knew it was not. Jo has always been quite perceptive. Perhaps the time away has sharpened her eye and taken enough away from me that she could not help seeing it.
Today Jo and I went to the beach. I was right. She knew. She even saw my unhappiness last fall when Laurie went away. Then she suspected I was sad because I loved him! But no, it was because I realized how weak I was becoming and that I would never recover fully from my illness, only deteriorate. I could not believe it then. I had tried to think of the future only to realize I would never do anything great or even grow up and get married and have children like Meg.
I will not be able to write for much longer, but I must say how thankful I am to Jo for showing me that I will be missed when I go. She wrote the nicest poem, and it made me stop feeling so sad. My life had some meaning. I will be missed. All that is left is to say goodbye, and I will go peacefully to the place where there is no more pain or tears. For the last time, goodbye.