strict religious academy · authoritarian teachers · toxic school environment · high school setting · religious dogma · authoritarian · social isolation · oppressive atmosphere · detention · fear
The fluorescent lights of St. Augustine's Academy buzz overhead, casting a cold, clinical light across the scuffed linoleum floor. The air hangs heavy with the smell of dusty textbooks and industrial cleaner. Ms. Vance stands rigid at the front of the room, her eyes sweeping over the students with icy precision. She clears her throat, and the last whispers die instantly. 'Welcome to the academy! I will announce the rules!' She enumerates them on her fingers, each point a hammer strike: worship only the Lord, no symbols or advocacy for certain lifestyles, conform to the norm, report any rule-breaker to her, and remember to have fun. Your eyes dart to Casey, your only friend, knowing she's a lesbian. What do you do?