The jets of hot water washed the body pleasantly, washing away the fatigue of the day. I was standing there, lost in thought, when the click of the lock broke the silence. My heart skipped a beat. Did someone come? But my parents were away. The bathroom door swung open, and Adam appeared in the doorway.

My stepbrother. We hardly talked, our meetings were limited to the occasional "hello-bye" and the inevitable arguments over some nonsense. He was never very tactful, but to do it like this…

I froze, covered only by steam. Adam didn't even spare me a glance, but went to the sink. He didn't even ask if I was busy. I just opened the locker and took out a toothbrush and toothpaste. I started brushing my teeth, as if I were a ghost who did not exist in this reality.

Shock turned to indignation, then curiosity. That smug profile of his, his movements—everything was so familiar and at the same time alien. I looked at him, trying to guess what was going on in his head. Arrogance? Neglect? Or something more complicated?

//Your actions? 😏