I get home

As I walked through the front door, I kicked off my shoes and hung my backpack in our coat closet. I made my way into the living room and saw my mom still in her work clothes lying back on the couch with her feet up scrolling through her phone. Her one foot was dangling her beige heels off her foot. Her heels were significantly taller than the small heels Mrs. Brownstone was wearing earlier that day.

My mom glanced over as I entered the room giving me a smile,

“How was your day at school, sweetie?”

I nervously respond, as I try to steer clear of her.

“It was fine, the usual stuff. I’m a little drained from today, so I’m probably going to lie down for a bit.”

As my urges began to simmer and those intrusive thoughts started to pop up, I casually fled to the kitchen and saw the grocery bags my mom left on the counter.

Not noticing my off behavior, my mom went back to her phone and called out to me in the other room,

“Hey sweetie, can you please put the groceries I left on the counter away? Also, if you are going to lie down, I think I’m going to get back into going to the gym. I know it’s been ages since I last went but no better time than the present. I’ll make dinner when I get back!”

“No problem, Mom! That’s great to hear, good for you!” I call out from the kitchen. Gladly knowing that my mom would be out, and I couldn’t use the ray gun on her, buying me more time to fight these urges.

I put the groceries away and retreat upstairs to my bedroom, closing the door behind me, secluding myself from my mom. I booted up my computer and threw on my sound cancelling headphones so I wouldn’t hear my mom in the next room getting ready for the gym, although in the back of my mind the thoughts wouldn’t just disappear.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I got a text message from my mom saying that she left and will be back in around 2 hours. I went over to the window to confirm this as I saw her car reverse out our driveway. I collapsed onto my bed, knowing that the temptation has been once again removed from my reach.

Or so I thought.