Timberline Academy

   Prologue: 

        “Never thought I’d see Philip Carnaway in my office,” Dr. Bruce muttered loud enough for Philip to hear and roll his eyes in an irritated manner. Philip already did not want to be here, but he bit his tongue and remembered who he was doing this for.

Philip Carnaway was New York Bestselling Author for over 11 books at his young age of 27.  His series of mental breakdowns is what caused him to be here, in this therapist office that had an overwhelming smell of pine air freshener.

        As Philip strode into the room, he took a seat across from Dr. Bruce’s chestnut desk.  The chair was a faux leather, and it sunk in way too deep. Philip awkwardly repositioned himself at the edge of the seat. Philip despised the chair more than the therapist.

        “Ah, so Mr. Carnaway you wanted to talk about your series of mental breakdowns,” Dr. Bruce muttered as he glanced through a pile of psychiatrist's letters of Philip's mental instability. “Now I just need to know which breakdown.” Dr. Bruce laughed, and Philip huffed like a dragon.

        “Well, Dr. Bruce if you even had half of the intelligence I do then you would know what if feels like to have frequent mental breakdowns,” Philip growled slamming his fist on the arm of the chair he truly was displeased with. Dr. Bruce quickly scrambled something onto his yellow legal pad that was sat next to his arm. After the swift scribble, he returned to reading through the stacks of papers that tried to define Philip.

        “Tell me about your time spent in Timberline Academy?” Dr. Bruce asked maintaining his gaze to the papers. A lump  quickly formed inside of Philip’s throat causing his words to remain locked in pain and memories.

        Philip deeply inhaled before replying, “How do you know about the Academy?” Philip dug his fingernails into his sweaty palms trying to not become a cliche of crying in front of a therapist. Victoria always hated therapists; he thought to himself.

        In  July after the release of Philip’s book, Orange Dawn, Philip was at a book panel answering questions when a person came on and started to attack Philip and his book verbally. Philip stood and physically attacked the man. His parents later had sent him to Timberline Academy. At the time, Philip was 18 and was a senior in high school.

        Timberline Academy was a boarding school for high schoolers that had a ‘rough past’ or a ‘troubling time’.

        “Talk about your time at the academy.” Dr. Bruce persisted as he crossed his arms over his chest and exhaled deeply. He leaned back in his computer chair creating a makeshift recliner.

        “I won’t, no I refuse to talk about the academy!” Philip yelled his voice cracking at the memories that haunted him to this day.

        "Fine; well if you won't speak about it write about it," Dr. Bruce ordered. Philip made a loud huffing noise before running his fingers roughly through his hair.

        "I can't just write a book like that!" Philip protested. Philip knew that was a lie, but he wouldn't be able to due to the terrifying context.

        "It's all non-fiction Philip. Next time I see you I want you to have a majority of it written. Understand?" Dr. Bruce ordered, and Philip growled in anger.

        "Can I go now? I obviously have a lot of writing to start thanks to you." Philip scoffed using any excuse he could to get out of there. The stuffy enclosed room made Philip's anxiety go through the roof.

        "The door is yours Mr. Carnaway," Dr. Bruce smirked using a hand motion to show where the visible door was. Immediately Philip stood to his feet and stomped his way out.