[Critique Group 1] cleora's april submission

[sitting.duck at springmail.com]

I sent this yesterday but haven't seen it show up on the list, so I'm sending again. Before, I sent it with an attached copy. If this one has the carriage returns and formatting removed, let me know and I'll send it again as an attachment.
No idea why it didn't go the first time. It's in my sent box and looks normal.
659 words
Chapter 4
The room she was in had a vaulted ceiling, and stained glass windows, but it didn't look like a chapel. There was a piano in the far left corner. The Decorated Christmas Tree in the center of the room reached almost to the ceiling of the second floor hallway visible from where she stood. She crossed the room and ascended the spiral staircase. Turning down the long hall, she glanced in as she passed each dimly lit room. Room after room was empty until the last one. In it, she saw a teenager holding a syringe. A chill ran down her spine.
“No!” she shouted, forgetting he wouldn't be able to see or hear her.
He looked around like he sensed someone was there, but, seeing no one, He shrugged and turned back to what he was doing.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him reach for a Glucometer. So, what is the problem, she wondered. This house has got to be worth millions. If anybody is going to have a Merry Christmas, it has to be this family.
She opened the notepad, and looked at the first page. What is the problem, here? She thought. Then, lifted the page. The word “Watch” appeared.
Hearing a noise, she turned around. A crowd of people were coming down the hall. As she watched, someone would go into a room as the group progressed. She caught bits of conversation. 
“My kids are coming down,” said one. “They are going to pick me up and take me to the family Christmas party.”
“That's great,” said the woman with a cane walking beside her. “My son is coming. I haven't seen him in 6 months. He and my daughter are taking me out for Christmas dinner. I told them not to buy me anything. Just seeing them and spending the day together is Christmas present enough for me.”
Misty heard other similar plans as the remainder of the crowd meandered by. Thinking back to the room she first landed in, she realized. This was a senior facility. She turned back to look at the boy in the room. He wasn't a senior. What is he doing here. What were the people coming back from? 
Someone carrying a tray brushed past her. “Gary, I brought you some breakfast.”
“I don't want it,” replied the boy.
“You have to eat.”
“Okay, just put it on the table. I'll get to it later.”
Frowning, The nurse set the tray on the table. “Would you like me to stay with you?”
He turned to face her. “No!” he shouted. “Just put it down and get out.”
The nurse looked desperate to find some way to help the boy. But, at last, she put the tray down and left.
What has his not eating got to do with having a Merry Christmas, Misty wondered. Looking around the room for clues, her eyes fell on four unopened packages on the table in the corner. Two were from a computer store, one from Apple, and one from Macy's. The corner of a sheet of expensive looking pink stationery was visible from under the tray. Could that be it? She wondered. She put her finger beside her nose and thought about pulling on the paper. It began to slide out from under the tray. But she pulled it too far and it fell off and landed print side down on the floor. She stamped her foot. Trying again, she thought about the paper turning over. She glanced up at the boy. He didn’t seem to be paying attention. She got the page positioned so she could read the letter.
It was from his Mom. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. We won’t be able to come. Take care of yourself. Have a Merry Christmas, dear. We love you.”
The words tore at Misty’s heart. Right. Sure they do. I know about that kind of love, she thought bitterly.