Chapter Text
The days pass monotonously slowly. Each day I wake to Enid and her bright smile. I get escorted to the cafeteria by Thornhill, to avoid another bagel incident. School, made palpable with some bonus curriculum thanks to Thing.
Dr. Kinbott seems to be watching me carefully, probably hoping for behavior that would get me banned from the field trip.
Lunch is a bit more social, my classmates all walk to the cafeteria and proceed to eat together. They make me feel included but are hesitant to make conversation with me, something small but appreciated.
I won’t lie, the group seems to be like a little family. I feel like an estranged cousin, but that isn’t a bad thing.
The afternoon free time has been different every time. It seems like every adult has tunnel vision on me. Mr. Galpin will even stop me in the halls if I try to escape to my room instead of socializing.
One time it was independent reading in the library, color by number in the lounge, and cookie decorating in the cafeteria. My personal favorite was the day they let us play instruments.
They unlocked all the instruments from the band room and it was a musical frenzy. The overwhelming majority of students couldn’t hold a tune to save their lives. Once I picked up my cello, I zoned out the chaos and let my fingers dance across the strings.
I was so wrapped up in the moment that it wasn’t until I finished up the piece I realized everyone was watching me in awed silence. Even Enid was speechless for once.
Dinner is the worst. Lunch you are at least allowed to eat outside in the courtyard, and breakfast is quiet enough considering most people are still doped up on sedatives.
Dinner is my worst nightmare. Each time Weems personally escorts me to dinner, I tried to skip it once and she intercepted my dash to the dorms. It’s dark by the time dinner is served so the courtyard is locked up.
It doesn’t help that the place is packed with additional nurses and security guards, apparently dinner time scuffles are a common occurrence. By the time I have poked my food around enough to leave, I am wishing someone would just lace the shit with arsenic to give me something to feel.
I haven’t been able to avoid nighttime medication. Thornhill is persistent. I will give her that. I did attempt to spit the pills out once, but she returned not five minutes later with an orderly and he made sure I swallowed them.
I can’t lie, they make me feel like floating on a cloud and all my cares are lifted away. I wish they would hurt more, like needles in my abdomen, or acid on my throat. I don’t mind them, it keeps me from thinking about Goody, Enid, or my parents. Oh… tomorrow is the trip into town. I wonder if I will find anything…..