Escaping Reality (Published Sample)

Five

The group session began. Well, every seat in the circle was filled with other people, and it looked like Rosie was going to be the only other adult in this session.

"Good morning," Rosie said with a little smile. "I figured for today's session, I'm going to give you guys the floor. You can speak about whatever you like."

"Anything?"

I looked over to see the boy sitting next to me. As I looked at him, I couldn't help but notice the sparkle in his blue eyes. It was one of those looks that screamed I'm trouble. His blonde hair was beginning to grow a little longer. He looked very fit. Not in the damn, he's hot sense, more he looked like he worked out. Not that he was ugly, either.

"Within reason, Jasper," Rosie warned.

"Oh." He sat back in his chair, a little deflated. "I don't have anything to speak about."

"Me either," a few other people chorused.

Rosie sighed. "Guys, these sessions are for you to all bond and share your stories, and you may have some realisations."

"I made some progress," a ginger-haired girl said as she looked up at Rosie. "I rang my mum, and I think I may tell her about the abuse."

"Wow, that's amazing, Lainey. That's great progress," Rosie said with a huge grin.

I wondered if all the accomplishments they had meant something to them.

"I haven't forced myself to be sick for a week." I looked over at the boy. He looked skin and bone, not at all healthy. "I mean, I nearly did, but I managed to stop myself. So, one week, two days, and twelve hours since I last was sick."

As I listened to the other patients, all of them were sharing their little victories, and no matter how small they seemed right now, they seemed like the biggest thing in the world.

I couldn't help but notice the odd stares whenever it went silent, like they were expecting me to jump in and talk at any point. Which I wasn't. I didn't want to socialise or even be here. I wanted home now more than ever.

"Chlo, why don't you tell us your story? Why are you here?" Rosie asked. In an instant, all eyes were on me. The ground could swallow me up at any point.

"My parents think I'm crazy." I shrugged. "They don't look at me like I'm their daughter. You know, they look at me as if I'm a stranger." I felt a pang in my chest as both of their faces flashed through my mind. "I'm not crazy."

"None of us are," a girl said.

I looked at her with a frown. She looked really familiar, and I couldn't put my finger on why. I had seen her before today. I just wasn't sure where. The way she spoke, moved, looked—it was similar to someone.

"None of us are crazy. We have problems, and we are getting help dealing with them here. Now, you obviously have some kind of problem, or you wouldn't be here. Get over your obnoxious self. We all share our problems, so you should share yours. Just because you're the new girl, doesn't mean you're above us all."

I glared at her. She stood up and began walking over to me. I stood up fast in a defensive stance.

"Girls."

"I'm telling the truth," I snapped, ignoring Rosie. "I don't know why I'm here!"

"Bullshit!" she spat.

"Lisa and Chlo, that is enough." Rosie stood, ready to intervene.

She raised her hand. I flinched, pushing her back. She fell to the floor.