Later

Tatiana has given me something new to worry about. She asked me what I’m planning to do with this diary, and if I’ve written things in it that I don’t want the guards to read – about hiding the jewels, for instance. I confessed that I had.

“Then you must burn it,” she said. “You can’t take it with you.”

I know she’s right. But this diary has been my friend for a long time, and I can’t bear to destroy it.

So this is what I’ve decided: I’ll entrust this diary to Sonia, who lives here in Tobolsk and has been kind to me, and ask her to keep it safe for me. Then, when we’re free, I’ll write to her from England or Japan or wherever we’re going, and ask her to send it to me.

And so, farewell to you, dear diary. Until we meet again.