I sit beside the fireplace with a cup of hot soup in my hands. I then take a sip of it and wrap my hands around the mug. I stare at the fireplace, very far with my thoughts. Slowly, I head for a novel and start reading it to distract myself. While I am reading, I hear the kitchen door creak open, and a gust of cold wind follows. It is a very cold winter evening, and I know it is my girlfriend, Janine.

As Janine makes her way to the lounge where I am sitting, I look up at her, only to see her drenched in blood. This does not scare me, though. She is used to coming home like this every fourth night.

“Honey?” I say, setting the novel aside, but instead of responding, she just stands still with blood on her clothes and face and her eyes glistening. “Are you okay?” I ask her.

Again, instead of responding, Janine turns on her heel and runs to the bathroom. I run after her, but she slams the door shut on my face.

“Well, I will be in the lounge should you need me!” I shout, standing at the door.

She does not respond again. She is not a woman of many words. After a while, I start cooking dinner. I make steak, half cooked, because that is how she likes it, and then set the dinner table. After setting the table, I look at the clock on the kitchen wall. It has been an hour since she went into the bathroom, so I knock on the door.

“Baby?” I say, but get no response. I then sigh, go back to the kitchen, and slowly sit down.

Tell us: What do you think might be the cause of the blood on Janine?