th Survey," an annual administrative task that everyone knew was a complete waste of time. It was long, filled with

ast as possible, selecting neutral answers without reading the question

r laptops one evening when Madison came back fro

h survey," she said.

estion aloud. "'On a scale of 1 to 5, how often have you felt that you were u

Of course, Madison was going

he questions, are you?" Olivia asked,

m. This is for our mental health. The university needs to have accurate data

sprout in my mind. It was a w

my tone sincere. "If you're really struggling with things, you should be completely honest. That's

's face. She puffed out her chest sli

ting up to go to the bathro

to a running commentary of Madiso

p so high that you could not overcome them?' Well, just l

s that were outside of your control?' All the time

le. She was building a psychological profile of someone on the verge of a complete breakdown. In her mi

rely conta

Professor Miller's office when I saw Madison stand

erted by the Dean's office this morning. They received the res

oking confused. "Alarming? B

n,' that you have 'no one to turn to,' and you even checked the box indicating you have 'fleeting thoughts of self

n I get a bad grade, I feel like my life is over for a

or you to document every fleeting negative emotion! You've triggered a full-blown intervention protocol. I had to spend my morning in a meeting wi

selor," Madison said brightly. "I h

le time and resources of at least three university staff members over what you're now telling me is just you being

stand why you're so angry. I was just doin

of fury and utter disbelief. He looked completely and

had fallen, and I had barely had to touch it. Madison's own personality was a self-d