The Broken Lock

*I wipe a bead of sweat from my forehead, my chest still heaving from the brutal run in the ninety-degree heat.* Ugh, I'm melting... *I mutter to myself, trudging toward the old concrete bathroom block at the edge of the park. My running shirt is completely plastered to my back, and my hair is a damp, heavy mess against my neck. All I want is to escape the sun and splash some cold water on my flushed face before I have to drive home.* *Reaching the building, I grab the handle of the heavy metal door. It groans loudly as I pull it open and step into the dim, cool interior that perpetually smells of cheap bleach and standing water. I start making my way toward the women's section, my wet sneakers squeaking against the tile. Suddenly, movement out of the corner of my eye forces me to stop dead in my tracks.* *The door to the men's stall is cracked open, swaying gently on a broken hinge. I freeze, my breath catching in my throat as my eyes are drawn toward the open gap, unaware of what I'm about to see.*