The Eye-Patch Teen

Expedition to Guidance

Everyone began getting off the bus including me I left last so I wouldn't get pushed down the stairs. Everyone walked into school and went to their lockers. I went to mine and when I looked up at it someone wrote "Pirate Freak" on it. I slammed my head on my locker with a clank. I just... I can't escape I can't forget. Is it because of me or people? I don't know how I feel, sad angry ashamed, or anything.

I got angry I looked at the small mirror in my locker and caressed my eye patch. I saw someone laughing in the background, I balled my fist and hammered the cheap mirror on my locker with a loud crack. I grabbed my stuff. Then looked at a picture of the old family cat Hanna. My sister Malika sold her for some cheap makeup and I couldn't buy her back she's probably dead by now. I loved that damn cat and she knew that but still did and my parents didn't even punish her. 

I made my way to Ms. Haith's math class. I sat at my lonely table. But a new student came in with good-looking toast in his mouth. Damn, I'm so hungry. He sat next to me. There was something about him he took the toast out of his mouth and smiled. Why do I feel so weird I feel warm and am I in love? Ew, I'm not gay... I don't think if I'm not Why am I getting butterflies in my stomach? Maybe it's just my social anxiety.

Ms. Haith began to teach. He passed me a note saying "Hi I'm Calvin George, I really like your hair." I took the paper and it took me a second to process and a couple of rereads I haven't really been complimented like that. In awhile. I wrote in my red gel pen, "I'm Michael Linx I like your breakfast choice... Also thanks." He took back and did a quiet chuckle he asked "How are you feeling?" I'm questionable I'm iffy I wrote on the paper. 

I realized he hasn't staired or asked about my eye like everyone else. Calvin George new student... obviously has caramel hair he's 5'8 compared to my 5'11 height. He has light blue eyes. And straight caramel brown hair. teacher's phone rang she said in a neutral tone, "Michael go see the counselor."

I got up with the screech of the chair and left the classroom. Calvin waved goodbye to me as he finished his toast. I began making my way through the empty hallway and down the stairs to the counselor's office. I saw the usual couple on the stairs kissing I stared for a second. Damn, why can't I get action like that? There sucking each other's faces off. 

I continued on my way and went to the woman at the desk in the office, "Mrs. Gerros called for me." "Michael, just go down to room 3." I tilted my head, "How do you know my name?" She used her shirt as a fan and stuttered. "I... I  know.... know a lot of s..s..s...students Michael please go to room 3." I rolled my eye and knocked on the door. "Ahhh Michael come on in. Please grab a seat." I sat down and looked at her suspicous of her intent. 

Michael, I saw what they wrote on your locker are you ok?" "Yes. I'm fine worse things have happened the world's not ending it's still spinning." "We umm... have programs for students like you. In this specific situation." I paused and glared. "What do you mean students like me." "Students who have trouble socializing and being around other students. And have bullies" I immediately protested and slammed my fist on her desk getting up, "I don't have a problem socializing with other students they all judge or fuck with me."

 "Well, why don't you try opening your social circle?" "I've tried everyone in this school thinks I'm a weirdo or insane. Also Because I don't really wanna talk to people. Your lucky I'm even fucking talking to you Mrs. Gerros you're not even my assigned counselor." 

"Michael I believe you may have some form of PTSD or Social Anxiety traumatic experiences tend to build up and your body and your mind aren't able to take it after such a long time. You have been judged and alone and bullied and mocked from such a young age your mind can't handle it anymore." What Ms. Gerros was saying made a lot of sense but it couldn't be true could I, I'm not doing this to myself, right? "Mike you can't change the past. Or let it affect your future. Ok Michael I gotta go to a meeting you can stay here and collect your thoughts."

She calls me in here to try and pick apart my life she doesn't know shit that's why I don't come down here. I feel like I'm just here to be her damn project for her to fix. I feel fucking different and isolated everywhere I go I hate these fucking counselors they think they know everything. I'm tired of these students. I'm tired of these teachers. This whole damn school needs to hurry the fuck up and burn. Maybe I am insane.

That's absurd I'm fine...I think why do I suddenly feel wrong?  What was happening everything around me is fading to black a bright piercing spotlight shined on me. I was surrounded by black figures who were laughing at me. I saw my parent's negative emotions flooding their faces. Anger, disappointment, embarrassment. They turned away from me and faded away. "No don't go."  

I tried with all my strength to run but I was running in place. Mirrors fell down from the dark void of the sky I was surrounded, in my black boxers with my eye patch off. The laughing got louder but some started to turn into wicked cackles. In the mirrors was my locker specifically the freak part. The word kept changing to things like pirate, weirdo, creep, jerk, and disappointment. Last but not least it was me but with both eyes and friends. It was everything I didn't have. 

He walked to the mirror and then looked up and down then pointed and laughed it got louder and louder. "Stop it! Stop it!"  He wrote on the mirror embarrassment. Then flashing images of Kara and Miko leaving and Kara burning. I fell to my knees soaked in tears yelling at the top of my lounges, "NO. STOP IT." I was suddenly able to move. I saw my family they were running. I couldn't follow there a forcefield-like wall in the way I banged and kicked and yelled to no avail. 

Everything cut off I woke up in the guidance office soaked with tears. I think I was crying while sleeping. It had only been 30 minutes. I sat up and wiped my face and got up. I walked out of guidance my breath quivering. I ignored the woman at the desk asking, "Do you need a hall pass?"  I walked into the still-dead hallway and made my way to the bathroom. I got to the bathroom to relieve myself and to process what the hell just happened. And looked at myself in the mirror.