You panic when you ruin the meal you’re cooking for your grumpy boss and his family. Your past has taught you that mistakes like this have painful consequences, your hand shakes and your vision blurs with tears so when your arm touches the boiling pan it barely registers.

You can hear him calling your name but you’re too terrified to respond, and his large hand wraps around your upper arm you lose it. Instinctively, your elbow flies back to connect with his face, horrified you cringe away from him and a small fearful sound makes its way from the back of your throat. The kitchen falls silent

“Baby, calm down,” His voice is soft, it’s the opposite of what you’d expect “Great elbow strike, but let me look at your arm ok?”