Spells and Cinders

Chapter 6

TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter does mention suicide / homicide along with brief mental illness issues. Reader's discretion is advised.

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Question 2: Have you ever had homicidal tendencies?

a) Yes.

b) No.

Circling letter B with my pencil five times until the lead almost snapped, I sighed and moved down the line of absurd questions.

Question 3: Have you ever had suicidal tendencies?

a) Yes.

b) No.

My Shrek-themed mechanical pencil gravitated towards the letter A, but I stopped myself and chose B.

Next question:

Question 4: Do you know any friends or family members who had or have homicidal or suicidal tendencies?

a) Yes.

b) No.

"Why do we have to complete this damn evaluation?" Faith Quinn shouted from across the room. She waved her paper in the air. "I don't have a mental health problem!"

"Not everything is about you, Faith," Sofía Caballero argued from the desk behind mine. "So, shut the hell up!"

"You shut the hell up, bit—"

The sound of Ms. Boyd's hand slamming on her desk made me jump. "Faith, Sofía . . . that's enough!" she snapped. "Please be quiet before I call Principal Shaw and have him assign you both after-school detention."

We all stared at her in shock. Getting on Ms. Boyd's bad side rarely happened, but when it did, you knew your day was ruined and it wasn't good.

"Sorry for the interruption, Ms. B," Faith and Sofía apologized, their voices quivering.

"Um . . . excuse me, Ms., but Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month is in September. Why are we doing this in February?" asked a student three desks ahead of mine.

"Well . . . because our superintendent cares more for athletic programs than the mental stability of students," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "So that's why we're a little late getting to the topic of suicide and mental health."

The entire class fell silent. Everyone was too stunned to speak.

"Okay, enough chitchat. Continue filling out your evals please," Ms. Boyd instructed, and sat down at her desk. She began shuffling through paperwork.

Flipping over the evaluation, I backpedaled to the first official question.

Question 1: In the past day(s), have you felt isolated or anxious?

a) Yes.

b) No.

I glanced down at the milky-white paper Ms. Boyd slapped on my desk no less than ten minutes ago, wanting to rip it to shreds. Instead, I exhaled deeply and circled 'No.'

While coloring in the rest of the white ovals at warp speed, I pause when I'm met with the final question:

Question 8: Do you know anyone close to you who has ever committed suicide? ( Or wanted to ).

a) Yes.

b) No.

YES.

"Okay, time's up. Please hand in your evals." Ms. Boyd stood and began circling the room.