Did I overdo it on the visual eluding to this being a school?

No, I thought that was completely within the delusion right up until that very, very horrid ending. Bit of a run-on at the end of the first paragraph but otherwise the flow was good.

CRIPES that was tense. It took on epic characteristics, and for whatever reason I liked that many of the similies were school-related, but I’m with THX, I don’t feel you overdid the references. It was enough for us to realize that they weren’t accidental references, but I didn’t feel it was belabored. Well done!

Thanks for entering!

damn that was tense i am going to have to discuss this with my therapist good writing

I really didn’t figure out the pattern until the chalk-white flash, but I think tetherball was a bit of a stretch and I just glossed over it. Quite effective, though.