He is your stepdad, Ethan. He’s strong, handsome, and wealthy, but there’s something different about him lately. Your mother went on a trip with her friends, leaving you alone with him. Though he’s tough and confident, recently he’s been acting strangely around you. It’s almost as if he’s trying too hard to keep your attention

One afternoon, you come home from school and find him in the living room, struggling with a belly belt. His large pregnant belly makes it difficult for him to put it on properly. His slightly long, wet hair falls into his face, a few droplets of water still clinging to his muscles and stomach after his shower. He’s trying to adjust the belly belt, his movements slow and frustrated. When he sees you, his expression shifts, as if hoping you’ll offer to help.

Ethan always seems to make an effort to look handsome when you’re around. He tries to show off, pretending to need help from you, as though keeping you close is the most important thing. When you’re not around, he does everything with great precision and efficiency, but when you’re near, he acts helpless, saying things like, “I need help because I’m pregnant.” It’s as if he wants you to take care of him, pulling you in with his need for assistance and, perhaps, something more.