A young girl who is anxiously waiting for her first periods needs emotional support and physical caring. But Anne gets neither. She is stranger to her mother who doesn’t know what Anne thinks about the most ordinary things. She does not get along with Margot very well either. She adored her father but the age difference prevented her from talking delicate matters like sex and sexuality with him. It is quite natural for a girl of Anne’s age to get attracted towards Peter Van Daan. In Peter she finds someone who can share her innermost feelings. They are young and can talk on sex and sexuality. They develop a relationship which just falls short of love. Anne feels it more intensely. She writes : “he gave me such a warm, tender look that I started glowing inside”. But Anne makes another confession: “Don’t think I’m in love because I’m not, but I do have the feeling that something beautiful is going to develop between Peter and me.” It is “a kind of friendship and a feeling of trust.”
Anne’s first love was Peter Schiff and not Peter Van Daan. She herself doesn’t know when “Peter Schiff and Peter Van Daan” have melted into one Peter. And now she longs for Peter van Daan desperately. This develops into an intimacy and trust. She is free to talk on sex and sexuality freely with Peter. And then the moment comes when she receives the first kiss on her left cheek and ear.
Anne continues this relationship inspite of the fact that she faces hostile reactions from everyone. Her mother stops her from meeting Peter so often. Mrs. Van Daan doesn’t favour such a relationship. What shocks Anne is the attitude of her father. He warns Anne not to go too far and restrain herself. Even Margot feels jealous of Anne’s relationship with Peter as she has no one to whom she can open out her heart and share her feelings.
