Straightjacket Read Online Free Page B

her. He rested his eyes on her a bit longer than on the rest. He didn’t bother with Ethan, who completed the circle next to Anna.
    “I’m in a mental hospital. I’m an angel. Those are both facts.”
    Dr. Blackwell cleared his throat again. Something about Caleb really seemed to irk him. “Caleb, we’ll explore this more in our individual session later this week.”
    His vacant expression was the only response he offered.
    “Anna.” The doctor turned to her, and she felt nauseous. “Please share with us something that you know is true.”
    There was no way she could get out of talking now.
    “I know that I don’t like it here very much,” she blurted out, embarrassed by both her audacity and the loudness of her voice. It had come out of nowhere. She crossed her arms over her chest. Please, let this be over soon .
    “I know you’ve only been here a short time and this can be hard to accept at first, but admitting that you have some issues to work through can begin the healing process.” He waited for some kind of response, but as she sat, feeling the eyes of everyone in the room on her, she couldn’t think of even one word to say.
    “It’s okay, sweetie,” Gertrude said. “It’ll get better.”
    “Thank you for sharing,” Dr. Blackwell added.
    She was relieved to be out of the spotlight and ecstatic when the doctor turned his attention toward Ethan.
    And then, drained, she stopped paying attention. Now and then she caught something Ethan said about how someone was out to kill him, but she decided she’d rather not listen and zoned it all completely out.
    Caleb was staring at her again. His arms were crossed against his chest, just like hers, and they hid the yellow box on his T-shirt. His legs were extended out in front of him with his ankles crossed. And he was smiling very slightly. Why did he always stare?
    Maybe he wants to murder me.
    Or maybe he actually likes me.
     

Chapter Three
     
     
    Caleb couldn’t stop staring at her. He hadn’t expected to feel so drawn to her this time. While the group listened to the details of Ethan’s paranoia, Caleb studied Anna’s features as she stared at the floor. He liked her face. Even though it was worn and tired, it was still pretty. Her auburn hair—smooth, long, and straight—seemed like it would be soft to touch. The white V-neck T-shirt, gray hoodie that she had zipped up halfway, and dark denim jeans almost made her disappear into the background. Her arms were folded across her chest, with her feet planted on the ground, facing inward toward each other. She was thin and not too tall, but the way she had positioned her body made her look even smaller than she actually was. Her goal was to go unnoticed, but that was impossible. Something about her glowed.
    Dr. Blackwell announced that the session was over, and they could all head to the dining room for dinner. The clock read exactly five thirty. Every evening they all ate at five thirty. Many of them weren’t even hungry. It didn’t matter. It was what they did every day and what they were told to do, so they obeyed.
    All six of them shuffled out of the room. Dr. Blackwell remained seated, his legs crossed and a smile aimed at them as they left. Caleb turned away, assuming the same empty expression he habitually wore.
    The tables in the dining hall were gradually filling up with people. Each one was draped with a crisp white tablecloth. Every place was set with a folded cloth napkin, the daily menu, a water glass, and a metal fork and spoon. They’d made it look as close to a restaurant as they could. The only crack in the illusion was the absence of the knives.
    Anna had sat down at a table by herself, across the room from Chrissy and her two friends. Gertrude and then Ethan joined her. She didn’t say anything when they sat down but offered a halfhearted smile at them both. Caleb rushed to take the one empty seat that was left, sliding his notebook and box of pastels underneath the chair. Her