I think that Melinda is drawing the pictures of the tree being struck by lightning to show how she feels about the abuse she is experiencing both inside and outside. Inside because she dealing with the emotions from being raped and from the emotions of her friends making fun of her. And outside through the physical and verbal abuse of her friends through being kicked, pushed around, and ignored also through being verbally assaulted. There’s also the fact that Melinda is struggling to find herself after being raped and is struggling to find a way to tell people.

            I think that Melinda is hurt in more ways than one because like I said she was raped and is struggling to find a way to tell people this, also her getting made fun of. She is also struggling to deal with loosing all her friends and this picture is representing that she wants to scream out her emotions.