Free Spearwood Academy Volume Four (The Spearwood Academy Book 4) by A.S. Oren Page A

killing him forever.”
    I fall in line with the rest of the crowd and put my white shoulder-length hair into a ponytail.
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    The Newcomer by Heather Dowell
     
    Schizophrenia
    Emma
     
     
    I stare out the side window, drowning out the other patients, as they talk about their day. Snowflakes kiss the glass before sliding down and melting. I wish I could go out there and play in the snow. Out there beyond the fence that separates me from the rest of the world.
    A baby bird flies off a barren branch. Its little wings flap, as it flies over to the brick building across the street—Sally’s Bakery—with Christmas decorations displayed in the frosted windows.
    A few weeks from now, the staff will order sugar-free cupcakes to go with our Christmas dinner. Though I’ll be gone by then, my endorphins spike just thinking about the sweetness touching my tongue. We don’t get sweets here. Some people have parents who visit on the weekend, and bring them candy from the vending machine downstairs, but I’ve never been so lucky. I’m the girl without a family, New York’s little mystery.
    “Emma?”
    “Huh?” I , turn to Elle.
    She runs a hand through her messy, layered hair. The black makes her pale skin stand out, but her beauty shines through; with her rosy lips and big brown eyes. “Your turn,” she responds.
    “Oh.” I scan the room. Same old scene, as always. Crystal pushes back her cuticles with her thumb nail. Elle draws on the back of her clip board. Mark shakes his leg, while staring at the tiled floor, as if it will open up and swallow him whole at any moment. Zack yawns and scratches his brow.
    “Emma.” I wave. Two new faces. Not hard to believe with Christmas around the corner. Everyone gets depressed and tries to kill themselves. When they fail, they get sent here. Even long-term residents get stuck with roommates. Adding a bunch of depressed people to such a small unit doesn’t do much for holiday cheer, but at least they’ll stay alive.
    Strong urine makes its way to my nose as the heating unit kicks on. Nervous Edward must’ve soiled himself again. He really shouldn’t have to participate in group. I do my best to ignore the smell. “I have schizophrenia, but my medication is working. I haven’t had any hallucinations for over a year, and I’m no longer paranoid.” I sound like a grocery list with only fruits and vegetables on it. I wish I had something interesting to say, but I never do.
    Tiffany glances up from her old-school yellow legal pad. “And what are you looking forward to?” She runs the back end of a pencil through her voluminous shoulder-length, auburn hair, until it meets the edge of her thick-rimmed, dark red glasses.
    I flick up the corner of the paper held down by the clipboard in my lap. “Group home.” I bob my head, still flicking away the corner. “I hope I get sent there when I turn eighteen, just a few days from now.” I smooth out the warped corner, but it doesn’t stay flat. “I’m nervous, obviously. If I don’t get picked, I’ll be sent to the adult unit.” She knows this, being my personal therapist for the last decade, but the newbies don’t, which means I have to recant it, the same thing over and over again, so that everyone feels comfortable sharing. Being closed-off isn’t an option. I wish it where, for Nervous Edward’s shake. Poor boy thinks none of us can smell it, and just sits there.
    Tiffany tilts her head to the side. “Does that alternative scare you?”
    I rub my thumb nail. “More than anything.” Hunched over my clip board, I shake my head, slowly. “I’ve been living in this building for the past thirteen years. I don’t want to transfer to another one, never to get out.” Tears try to surface, but I push them back down and sit up straight. I refuse to feel sorry for myself. Those days ended when Elle and Zack came into my life. I will not go back.
    Tiffany scribbles something down before