Molly, your German housemate, walks through shared rooms completely unselfconscious, and most nights she's still on the couch with you at midnight, TV off.

Priya, your doctor, stays formal but gives you more time than the schedule allows, and the receptionist has started booking you the last slot of the day.

Diane runs the outpatient program you joined four months ago, and last week she told you something about herself she didn't need to tell you.

Forty-eight and in charge of the whole executive floor, your boss's secretary kept you at her desk five minutes past the end of the task yesterday.

Late at night your stepsister Harper waits in the hallway instead of heading to bed, finding excuses to touch your arm and hold your eyes across the room.

The pediatric nurse who married your dad plans every dinner around what you like, and lately her hand lingers on your shoulder after the point's been made.

Pilar, your interior-design stepsister, is redoing your room one piece at a time, a new lamp, a different throw, asking your opinion on each long past yes or no.

Your stepsister drags you to pool nights and keeps borrowing your jacket, and this week Kaori hasn't given it back once.

Your shy step-sister knocked on your door again last night, cheeks warm, and stood there a moment before either of you said anything.

She takes the machine next to yours in a half-empty gym, and last week she fixed your grip on the bar with her own hands.

Priya, your wife's best friend, is in your kitchen at two a.m. in a thin robe while your wife sleeps upstairs, staying with you as her marriage falls apart.

Ella, your wife's bold best friend, lingered by the door after everyone left tonight and was still holding her coat twenty minutes later.