I Just Ran Into A Cliché

(For context, I work in social services, and I deal with many families experiencing domestic violence. One morning, I am running late to a meeting and rush out the door of my office. Unfortunately for me, the handle jams and the door doesn’t open. I crash into it face first, hard, and end up with a nice goose egg on my forehead. By the time I get back for a previously scheduled meeting with my supervisor, I have a prominent, black-and-blue bruise above my right eye. My supervisor is, understandably, concerned when we meet.)

Supervisor: “Oh, my God! What happened to you?”

Me: “It’s fine. I just ran into a door.”

(My supervisor pauses and gives me a weird look.)

Supervisor: “Really?”

(It suddenly occurs to me that “ran into a door” is a stereotypical excuse used to cover up domestic violence, and is similar to one we might hear from a client.)

Me: “No, no! I really did run into a door, I swear!”

(I explain what happened that morning and we commiserate over my misfortune. Thankfully, this supervisor and I have been working together for a couple years and she knows I’m single, live alone, and am accident-prone, so the conversation didn’t get overly awkward. And I’m a little more careful with phrasing and explaining.)