Chapter 6
Chapter 6 (Fears & Comfort In Parallel)
Chapter Description: A nightmare of running in the forest. Being laughed at in a classroom? What do all these dreams mean? I dunno. All I know is I'm scared and Brian has to help me!
I swallow the lump in my throat as the dark forest surrounds me. I whimper when I glance down and my find my purple T-shirt and blue jeans stained in mud. I waddle-run through the forest whilst the screeching of unknown monsters surrounds me. I shut my eyes and continue running. Soon, white light surrounds me.
I cover my eyes and once the white light fades, I bring my hands down to see a classroom containing three desks in front of me. I swallow again as laughter echoes around me, and I dart my eyes to my new outfit: a blue T-shirt with a BABY sash and my Pampers.
I whimper as the laughter rises and I shut my eyes whilst the laugher gets louder and louder. “STOP! STOP IT!” The laughter continues as the classroom fades into nothing but darkness.
……
I jump up as sweat inches down my face. I blink twice whilst fresh tears spring in my eyes. I whimper as I scan the outfit I went to bed in last night: my purple T-shirt and Pampers. I sniffle and whimper as the dream replays in my head. I hiccup as I crawl toward the bars of my crib. I unlatch the locking mechanism and jump out.
I whimper and silent tears inch down my face as I waddle into the dim hallway lit by the dimmed living room lamp. Whimpers and silent tears echo around me as hissing carries the fear of my nightmare out of body, “BRIAN! BRIII…” I waddle over to his door and whimper when I see it cracked open. I push at the door whilst my Pampers wetness indicator shifts from yellow to yellow-green.
“Brian…BRIAN?!” I hiccup and sniff as silent tears inch down my face while my body stops moving.
Brian blinks twice at my sobbing and jumps out of bed whilst his green pajama T-shirt and pants flutter at his sudden movements. He presses the power button on the remote for his bedroom lights and rushes over to me while his room is bathed in soft amber light. He kneels in front of me and pulls me into a warm hug, “What’s wrong, Stacinator? Why you are up so late?”
Brian glances toward the clock above his door and blinks twice at the time…
……
Date: Friday 03-Dec-21 05:08 (Friday, December 3, 2021, 5:08 AM)
Location: Brian’s Residence, Skyward Villas Apartments, Kirkwood, Missouri, United States of America
“Early rather…It’s five in the morning.” Brian yawns while I bury my head in his chest and my silent sobs dampen his shirt, “Oh Stacey…” He rubs my back and pats my bottom whilst rising with me held close to him. Brian walks over to his bedside table and unlocks his phone with his right hand whilst holding me on his left arm. “My little brother had a nightmare huh?”
I sniff and hiccup as the silent tears continue to flow while I wipe my face with my balled-up fist. “Uh huh. I…I…” I sniff and whimper as I rest my head against Brian’s while he activates my Favorites playlist with Imagine Dragons’ Wrecked beginning to echo across his bedroom.
Seconds after Brian sets me on my feet, I latch my arms around his waist, “NOOOO!” I wail in protest as hissing echoes around me as my fears rip across my body, “DON’T LEAVE ME! DON’T LET THEM MAKE FUN OF MEEEEEEEEEEE! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
Brian sighs mentally as he peels me off him and kneels to hug me, “I’m never going to leave you. And no one will ever make fun of you.” Brian alternates between rubbing my back and patting my bottom whilst the second song: Pentatonix’s Easy Love begins to echo across his bedroom. “Shh…shh….”
Brian rises to his full height and bounces me in his arms as he slowly walks around his bedroom. This is the first time Stacey ever came to me so early with a nightmare. Brian rubs the sleep from his eyes and kisses my forehead. I’m his big brother though, I have to be ready at a moment’s notice to help. I remember we used to talk about how I’d need time to adjust to him being a toddler and me caring for him. Heh…I was right.
……
Date: Friday 03-Dec-21 05:16 (Friday, December 3, 2021, 5:16 AM)
Location: Brian’s Residence, Skyward Villas Apartments, Kirkwood, Missouri, United States of America
Brian sighs as he looks away from the clock and sits down on his bed with me still latched onto him. He rubs my back and pats my bottom while I snuggle close to him, “Stacey? Stacey?”
“Don’t…I don’t be alone.” I whimper and hiccup as my adult mind and toddler emotions battle each other while hissing echoes around me, causing my Pampers wetness indicator to fade from yellow-green to green. “I…I had a nightmare.”
Brian lifts me out of the tight hug and sets me on his knee. He smiles down at me and bounces me, “What happened?”
I giggle at the sudden bounce and sniffle as I wipe my remaining tears off my face, “I…I had…I was in a forest. It was dark and…and I was alone. I hate being alone. I…I didn’t see you so I just ran and ran and ran. Then…then I was in a classroom. Kids…kids were…were laughing at me.”
I whimper as fresh tears swim in my eyes, and I train my teary eyes on Brian, “Don’t make me go. Don’t make me go to school with the mean kids. They’re all meanies. They’re all…all…” I bury my head in Brian’s chest and wrap my arms around him, “I don’t wanna go.”
Brian wraps his arms around me and sighs mentally, “I’ll never let you go to school. In this parallel world toddlers like you aren’t required to go to school. Adults just have someone watch over their kiddos. For me, I’m watching over you.” Brian gently pulls me off him and sets me on my feet, “I will always be here.”
I sniff and hiccup as my hands form fists and retract three times as I will my fear to subside, “You…you promise?”
Brian ruffles my hair, “I promise.” and rises with me held close to him. “I’ll always be here for my little brother.”
I hiccup and rub my eyes with a balled-up fist, “Thankies, Bwian. I…I sowwy for waking yoo.” I glance toward the clock above his door and whimper…
……
Date: Friday 03-Dec-21 05:26 (Friday, December 3, 2021, 5:26 AM)
Location: Brian’s Residence, Skyward Villas Apartments, Kirkwood, Missouri, United States of America
“I dun wanna go back to bed. I dun wanna! I dun wanna! I dun wanna!” I whimper and pepper Brian’s chest with my tiny fists as he carries me toward my bedroom, “No…noooo!”
Brian lays me down on my changing table and lightly taps my forehead with a fresh Pampers Baby Dry diaper while I kick my legs in mid-tantrum, “I’m not letting you go anywhere in wet diaper, Little Brother.” Brian sets the diaper on my chest and tickles my bare right foot.
I hiccup and stop kicking my legs so I can scan Brian, “So no bedtime?”
Brian unfastens my soaked diaper and lifts my legs to slide it away, “Nope. It’s too late to go back to bed without you waking up at 8AM anyway.” He grabs some Pampers Complete Baby wipes with his right hand while holding up my legs with his left.
I giggle at the cold baby wipes and can’t help but smile at Brian as he works on getting me dry, “Thankies, Brian. I…I sowwy for waking you up. I…I was scared.” I hiccup and sniffle as tears swim in my eyes while Brian lowers my legs so he can roll my old diaper into a ball.
Brian shakes his head as he grabs the baby powder and powders my uplifted bottom, “It’s no problem. I’m your big brother, and big brothers are supposed to help their little brothers whenever they need it.” Brian sets the baby powder down and grabs the fresh Pampers Baby Dry diaper lying on my chest. He flicks it unfolded and slides it under my bottom.
I sigh at the comfort of a fresh diaper being brought up to my belly. I giggle as Brian tapes the new Pampers Baby Dry diaper snug around my waist. I sit up on the changing table and smile at Brian whilst hissing carries the last of my fear out of my body. I scoot toward the edge of the changing table and wiggle my toes as I reach out to Brian, “Brian? Brian?” I flex my hands.
Brian lifts me into his loving arms for a warm hug and rubs my back, “I love you, Stacey. I’ll always be here for you.” Brian strolls toward the bathroom and sets me on my feet in the center of the floor. Right as he turns on the faucet, he feels a weight hugging his leg. He glances down to me and ruffles my hair while I hug his leg tight, “Don’t worry, Little Bro. I’m not going anywhere.”
I bury my head in Brian’s leg and sigh as his loving aura protects me from the nightmares I just endured. When I hear the faucet turn off, I let go of Brian’s leg, “Brian?”
Brian kneels and kisses my forehead, “Yep? Feel better?”
I rub my eyes and nod, “Uh huhs.” I march in place allowing my Pampers to crinkle and I wrap my arms around Brian, “I wove yoos.” I stop marching and giggle as I kiss Brian’s cheeks twice before resting my head over his shoulder with a smile.
Brian smiles as he returns my hug and rises with me held close. He inches out of the bathroom and strolls around the apartment at a slow pace whilst alternating between rubbing my back and patting my freshly diapered bottom, “I love you too, Stacey. I love you too. No matter what.”
I wrap my arms around Brian’s neck and lift my head off his shoulder, “I love you more.” I rest my head over his shoulder with a smile as I’m slowly carried around the apartment while the faint music of Imagine Dragons’ Dancing In The Dark graces the apartment. Peace at last. My fears of my nightmare are long gone thanks to Brian’s love. I’m glad in this parallel world that Brian’s my big brother.
I couldn’t have asked for a happier way to have a new childhood. Even if I have nightmares, Brian’s there. Even if I get hurt, Brian’s there. Whatever happens, Brian’s always there and he always helps me feel better. I’m glad I came to this parallel world. It was the best choice I could have ever made.
