I’m relishing having a Friday evening to myself. I’ve plugged my headphones into my PC and fired up my favourite game, happy to not have to see people for the next few hours. It’s about 10pm as I’m about to begin the first round, and my door bursts open. My step-sister is bawling her eyes out, her mascara leaking over her perfectly done makeup. As I pause the game, and turn to her, she closes the door and starts muttering uncontrollably.
“W-w-why does this always happen to me?” she says, tears streaming down her face. “I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”
I’m a bit perplexed. I know she went for dinner with a guy she’d been seeing for the last few weeks, but to be honest I didn’t really expect her to be home so early. She puts her arms out and I know she needs a hug. Taking a moment, I remove my headphones and then stand up to embrace her. I let her nestle into my chest, as I hold her protectively.
“What’s happened?” I say, “do I need to go and sort this guy out?”