Dormitory

This wasn’t my first choice.

I wanted to go somewhere different, honestly. This place was dingy, damp, and sometimes it didn’t feel too welcoming...But I wasn’t here for that.

There were lots of other kids here, however, and my roommate seemed nice enough for to get along.

I didn’t really talk much, though. I preferred to stay to myself and focus on my writing. Focus on my art. Focus on my studies, in my past time. In between speaking to my room mate and finding silent hobbies, I slept. A lot.

But what else do teenagers do? That was normal.

I should have been sleeping right now. But now, I was sitting alone in the common room, surrounded by the antiseptic aroma I was so used to, reading some book my teacher had brought in. I liked my teachers, to tell the truth. My classes were never long but...I missed learning.

One of the other girls came into the Common Room, shutting the door behind her and taking a seat in an adjacent couch, the ugly plaid one everyone else avoided. She appeared bored, and much more interested in whatever I was doing.

“What are you reading?” She started, leaning her head downward to read the title of my book, her beautiful auburn hair cascading over her shoulder. She knew she was pretty, despite the rumpled sweatpants and Uggs she sported.

I set the novel onto my lap, crushing her hopes as she let out an agitated sigh. “Look, I know you have this “loner” persona going on-”

“- I don’t care what you think about me, honestly.”

My answer was abrupt and seemed to take her off guard. She let her expression fall flat and then she gave an uncomfortable sniff as she thought about what to say, leaning back against the seat and playing with a frayed end of her sweatshirt.

I looked her dead in the eyes, narrowing mine slightly as I sized her up. Despite her casual elegance….She wasn’t imposing. And I, twice her size and with a stereotypical shaved haircut, had to intimidate her somewhat.

“I’m not paying thousands of dollars to make friends here,” I continued, and she nodded her head finally, sticking out her bottom lip in a sarcastic pout.

“You know, maybe they were right about you,” the girl continued, leaning forward in her seat and licking her tiny, puckered lips. She was disgusting to me. She had been from day one. “Maybe you’re just miserable because you’re a bitch-”

I could feel the blood pumping through my veins. I could hear it in the back of my head. I was standing to my feet to leave the room- I couldn’t sit here and take this anymore, I just wanted to be alone-

There was ear-shattering scream from outside the Common Room, and as I flinched I dropped my novel, the book hitting the floor and opening around my feet. There was nothing but the sound of violent, racking sobs and a few women running down the hallway.

I gave an exasperated sigh, walking over to the glass and pressing my forehead against it.

My roommate was never the brightest. Coming out of our room, her forearms covered in her own blood, she dropped whatever she was holding to the ground, where it clattered and finally fell silent. The expression on her face was of pure horror and immediate regret.

The nurses were upon her, moving her down the hallway and away from sight. I caught a desperate look from her, as they tugged her hospital gown and made her move faster.

I rolled my eyes, and turned back towards the girl.

“I may be miserable…..but I’m getting out of here one day.”