Symbols Forget Me Not Alyson Derrick

Polaroid Photographs and Hidden Box: Symbols of Memory and Identity in Forget Me Not

What the Symbol Is

In Alyson Derrick’s Forget Me Not, the Polaroid photographs and the orange shoe box hidden inside a bedroom air vent function as the only physical record of Stevie Green’s two-year secret relationship with Nora Martin. The box contains handwritten letters, mementos (a graduation tassel, a popcorn bag, a lottery ticket), and mostly black‑and‑white Polaroids that the couple deliberately took instead of digital photos—to leave no trace on their phones. The vent screws, nearly stripped from constant use, hint at how often Stevie revisited these keepsakes.

Where It Appears in the Story

The symbol recurs at three crucial points:

  • Chapter 1 (before the accident): Stevie retrieves the box at 3 am, needing tangible proof of Nora after she nearly revealed her secret at church. She pulls out a Polaroid of Nora swimming in the crick, then hastily re‑hides the box when she hears a noise from her parents’ room. The box is her “only physical evidence” of a relationship that must stay hidden until their planned escape to UCLA in September.

  • Chapter 23 (after Stevie’s memory loss): Months later, with no memory of Nora, Stevie accidentally finds the box while searching for personal mementos. The stripped vent screws catch her attention. Inside she discovers the Polaroids, including a photo of herself kissing Nora. The discovery shatters her belief that she is straight and forces her to confront the truth Nora has been keeping.

  • Chapter 28 (reconciliation scene): Nora brings the box to a wildflower field they planted together. She shows Stevie each memento, recounting their shared history. The box becomes a bridge between Stevie’s erased past and her emerging present, allowing her to ask, “Will you tell me about us?” The Polaroid of Stevie skinny‑dipping, which Nora playfully reveals, sparks flirtation and a re‑kindling of their connection.

  • Chapter 38 (final departure): Stevie and Nora leave Wyatt for UCLA. Though the box isn’t explicitly mentioned at the airport, the accumulated meaning of the photos and mementos underlies Stevie’s final realization that even if her brain forgets, the love remains embodied in Nora. The public kiss Stevie gives Nora symbolizes that they no longer need hidden evidence.

How the Meaning Changes

  1. As a Secret Archive (Pre‑Fall): The box embodies fear and hope. It is Stevie’s lifeline to her authentic self—“the only thing keeping me whole.” Yet it must stay locked away because discovery would ruin her family relationships and her escape plan. The Polaroids, by being physical rather than digital, represent a deliberate choice to keep love tangible but invisible.

  2. As a Startling Revelation (Post‑Fall): The same objects become evidence of a forgotten life. For Stevie, they provoke confusion, shame, and anger because they force her to re‑evaluate who she is. The box shifts from a comfort object to a threat to her new, clean‑slate identity.

  3. As a Path to Reconnection (Reconciliation): Shared intentionally, the box transforms into a love story retold. Nora uses it to help Stevie reconstruct their relationship, and the Polaroids become prompts for new memories. The physical items—the popcorn bag, the ticket stub—ground abstract love in concrete moments.

  4. As a Symbol of Freedom (Ending): By the airport scene, the need for a hidden box dissipates. Stevie’s parents accept her and Nora, and the couple can be public. The box’s purpose is fulfilled; the love it protected no longer requires secrecy.

Connections to Characters and Themes

  • Stevie Green: Her identity is fractured by memory loss. The box both threatens and restores her sense of self. It forces her to grapple with her sexuality and the family estrangement that resulted from her secret life.
  • Nora Martin: She acts as the keeper of the box’s meaning after Stevie forgets. Her willingness to share the memories—even at the risk of rejection—shows deep loyalty. The box holds her love and her pain of being forgotten.
  • Memory and Identity: The Polaroids serve as external memory storage. Stevie’s journey from hiding them to using them to rebuild her story mirrors her movement from shame to self‑acceptance.
  • Secrecy and Coming Out: The hidden location (the air vent) mirrors the closet. The act of hiding the box parallels hiding her sexuality. By the end, Stevie no longer needs to hide—she kisses Nora publicly.
  • Family Expectations vs. Self‑Authenticity: The box is hidden from Stevie’s parents because her truth contradicts their Catholic, small‑town world. Her father’s imagined violent reaction and her mother’s earlier erasure of memory make the box a dangerous secret to preserve her relationship with her family.

4 Study Questions with Answers

1. Why do Stevie and Nora choose Polaroids instead of digital photographs?

The choice is purely practical: a Polaroid leaves no digital trail on anyone’s phone, so it cannot be accidentally discovered by family members or friends. It allows them to keep physical proof of their relationship while minimizing the risk of exposure. This decision underscores the constant vigilance required to maintain their secret life in a small town where they are not yet out.

2. How does the orange shoe box function differently for Stevie before and after her memory loss?

Before the accident, the box is a treasured archive that Stevie revisits to feel whole—it holds her love for Nora and her hope for escape. After the accident, it becomes a shock: she does not recognize the items and initially interprets them as proof that Nora lied to her. The box shifts from a comfort object to a catalyst for crisis, forcing Stevie to confront a reality she has no memory of.

3. What role does the box play in the reconciliation scene in Chapter 28?

Nora brings the box to the wildflower field as a deliberate act of sharing. By physically handling each memento (the popcorn bag, the football ticket, the Polaroids), she narrates their love story. The box becomes a tangible link between Stevie’s forgotten past and her present curiosity. Nora’s playful reveal of the skinny‑dipping photo re‑introduces flirtation, showing that the box can spark new emotional connection, not just serve as evidence of the old one.

4. How does the eventual public kiss at the airport (Chapter 38) relate to the hidden box?

The kiss marks the end of the need for secrecy. Stevie no longer requires a hidden box because she no longer hides her identity or her relationship. The public kiss stands in direct contrast to the carefully hidden Polaroids: love is now openly acknowledged. The box’s function—to preserve a relationship that must stay invisible—is no longer necessary, signaling Stevie’s full embrace of her authentic self.

For deeper exploration of the novel’s central concerns, see the Forget Me Not book home and theme analyses of Memory and Identity, Love and Second Chances, Secrecy and Coming Out, Family Expectations vs. Self‑Authenticity, and Escape from a Small Town. Character profiles for Stevie Green, Nora Martin, Ryan, Julia Green, John Green, and Savannah offer additional context.