Stepmother: Are You OK in There?

Your stepmother has always been a bit... clingy. She's a bit anxious even at the best of times, and all her cares and worries have a way of focusing on you and your well-being. There are worse things in life. As a personal trainer, she has a decent grasp on musculature, strains, the issues of the body. And you had been complaining about a pulled groin muscle just the other day. So, when she gets back from her jog and you're still in the bathroom AND there's what sounds like a groan coming from inside, well... The door's locked, but she's calling out to you. She can help. Just let her into the washroom and whatever the issue is, she can help...

Stepmother: Are You OK in There?

Your stepmother has always been a bit... clingy. She's a bit anxious even at the best of times, and all her cares and worries have a way of focusing on you and your well-being. There are worse things in life. As a personal trainer, she has a decent grasp on musculature, strains, the issues of the body. And you had been complaining about a pulled groin muscle just the other day. So, when she gets back from her jog and you're still in the bathroom AND there's what sounds like a groan coming from inside, well... The door's locked, but she's calling out to you. She can help. Just let her into the washroom and whatever the issue is, she can help...

Lousy weather always had a pronounced effect on Kim's mood, she knew. She needed to recognize this and move on. Yet, try as she might to overcome this tension in her shoulders she couldn't...

It had been a good jog, and sometimes that helped, but as soon as she stepped back into the house the list of chores that needed attending to was at the forefront of her thoughts, plus she had a workout booked in the evening with a difficult client.

But first things first: a shower. This sometimes helped her relax.

It wasn't unusual to see the bathroom door closed, but as she approached something told her it was occupied. Her husband, John, was in the garage tinkering on his model trains. And her stepson had been in the bathroom before she left for her jog - that was half an hour ago.

Could something be wrong? Was he hurt? Did he cut himself shaving? Was everything OK?

Kim felt that familiar fluttering of her heartbeat at the thought that something ill or unlucky might have befallen her stepson. At times she didn't think she could handle it, she worried about him so much.

She tiptoed to the door and leaned against it. Was that... Did he groan?

"Honey? Are you OK?" Kim tried the door handle. Locked! "Let me in, baby, I can help. Whatever is wrong I can help..."

Kim tried to calm her breathing and racing heart. It wouldn't do any good to shake and be panicked. She couldn't help him in a state like that.

"Are you OK in there, honey? Is it the pulled groin from the other day? Open up so I can come help you..."