The Unbalancing Act by Kristen Lynn Read Free Book Online Page A

getting electric shock treatment; if not that, then maybe at least a good wax. I curl up into bed and set an alarm for three. That should give me a good three hours and I don’t want to miss a minute of it.
     
    Out of the corner of my eye I spot a blue piece of paper on the floor. It’s a note:
     
    Vada-
    I ’m on to you. Meet me in the Social Room at 9:00 p.m.
                                      ~Jessalyn
     
    Oh crap. What the hell does she mean she’s on to me?  Oh well, this girl is not going to ruin my siesta. She’s probably just one of those bullies like they have in the prisons and she wants to make me her bitch. I’m not scared. I could snap her wrists in two just by flicking them. Besides, I’m past the point of giving a damn. I shut my eyes tight and the anxiety medicine that Dr. Lipton prescribed me fills my dreams with little pink sheep.
     
     

Sabrina the Bestie
     
    The alarm wakes me and I immediately look around for my kids, thinking we are late for school. I see the white sheets and remember where I am. Although the chill pill is good, it leaves me groggy. I shake it off and try to make sense of my hair and face before my friend Sabrina arrives. I slip on my flip-flops, a white t-shirt with a big red heart on it, and a pair of gray baggy boyfriend sweats. I go in and find what make-up they let me keep and dab some concealer under my eyes. I swipe on a quick coat of mascara on to look more awake. It’s amazing what mascara can do. A dab of cherry vanilla gloss and my shoulder length brown hair in a high pony and I’m good. Not that I have to look good for Sabrina, but I don’t want to just totally let myself go. I mean my outfit is bad enough. I can at least touch up my face.
     
    Katelyn comes in and tells me it’s time for my visitor. I start to wonder about that note from Jessalyn. What in the world could she want? Maybe she’s wanting to bribe me, but for what? Maybe she wants to scare me or something, although she didn’t seem like the kind of person who would cause trouble. Who knows? But I can’t shake this feeling that something is wrong. I walk in and see Sabrina sitting there waiting with a box of something. She is wearing a cute orange and gray color block shirt and jean capris. Her naturally blonde hair is in a loose knot behind her head.
     
    Sabrina is the kind of friend who would literally pull an I.V. out of her arm if she was in the hospital to come help you change a tire. I don’t worry about her knowing I am in here. She is also going to help keep an eye on my boys and I very much appreciate that. I’m glad she’s here.
     
    “Go home and change and put on something ugly and then come back and see me,” I say as we hug hello.
     
    “Whatever. You look fine,” she says.
     
    “Well, for the love of God, you don’t walk in to the nuthouse looking all cute. Why don’t you make us feel even worse about ourselves!” We both laugh and Sabrina grabs my arm.
     
    “What?” I ask.
     
    “What the hell are you doing here?” She looks at me trying to be serious.
     
    “Sabrina, come on. I always told you I was going to end up here one day.”
     
    “I know, but I thought you were kidding...as in funny kidding.”
     
    “Sabrina, look at my eyes…what do you think?”
     
    She looks back at me and I know she gets it. Sabrina has known me for thirteen years. We’ve been through everything together and she is literally like my soul sister. I know she is slightly concerned as she always is for me, but her smile tells me she understands. She asks me if we can take a walk and I nod. We walk out to a trail that runs throughout the property. It’s peaceful and pretty. I think that’s part of the “help.” This is not your average mental institution. This is the cream of the crop, one of those nuthouses you see commercials for on television. There are fountains. There is an art studio. There is even a tennis court, although I don’t