It was now the afternoon, and a peaceful one at that, I got to stay with daddy! He was let off his extra classes for a day. At home, I didn't really feel like playing with toys, so I say back into the sofa and plugged my airpods in, ready to watch some Molang. After a while, I got bored and wandered around to daddy. Before I could speak to him, there was a knock on the door. A nervous voice reached my ears and an unsure eye peeked through the peephole. "Um, hi guys, it's Zander. Could you let me in?"

Daddy moved to the door and I stepped to the side as the door clicked open and Zander nervously strolled in. "Zander, what brings the visit? I already told you that you don't need to babysit Georgia today, right?"

Zander funbled with his tie and straightened up. "Uh, no, not about that. Georgia actually.. she has a visitor."

Upon hearing those words my heart froze for a second. A visitor? From my outside life? I hadn't been in contact with anyone from my old life, so I didn't know who could possibly be waiting to see "Who is it?" I asked, very curiously.

"Well, apparently, it's your mother, Georgia."

I panicked. No, not my mother! She didn't know about my age regression. How could she have found out I went here?! No, no!! It's so weird after being here for ages and then having to face others who you've known for your whole life. Even the thought it weird.. "Georgia?" Daddy tapped me on my shoulder, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Well, do you want to see her?"

In a way, I really did. But then again, I didn't. I needed to see her. She had raised me for my whole life. And I needed to see her. Maybe she wasn't doing okay? If she came because she had to warn me of a possible illness she'd contracted, and I turned her away, I wouldn't be able to live with myself..

"Yes, I want to see her.." I replied.

Daddy looked at me, then at Zander. "Err, should I come too.. I don't really want to intrude on such a personal matter.."

I paused. Daddy was practically my parent now. And first, I'd like to see my mother on her own. To explain. "Daddy, I'm sorry but I don't want you to come right now.."

He nodded, I think he looked relived. "Well, stay safe and have fun, angel."

I beamed at him then left with Zander.

The walk along the campus was agonizingly long. Perhaps it was my thoughts slowing time down. Eventually thought, we reached the reception area. "Right, Georgia. Ready?" I nodded. Then looked down at myself. Oh, no. My mother wouldn't even recognize me. I was still in my academy uniform, but my hair was in normal braids and I had some face paint on. It was butterfly face paint. And, I had a pacifier clipped to my blouse. I panicked and immediately clipped it off. Zander smiled and held his palm out. "I'll take care of your paci for now, okay? Your mother is just seated in the reception, I think. I'll wait here if there's any problems."

I walked over to the direction he said. Yes, she was there. Her tidy brown hair tucked safely back into her classic work bun. She was wearing her 'mom jeans' and a white blouse with a pin badge on it with her name. Her head swivelled in my direction and a look of shock registered on her face. "Georgie?" (That was her affectionate nicknames for me) "is that you?"

I rushed over to her and smiled. "Hi mum.."

She smiled but then it faded away. "Georgie, what have they done to you here? You look barely fed, and braids?! I stopped making you those when you were 8!"

My foot dithered in mid air. Again, here was the 'light hearted' harsh criticism that she always dealt out. I had forgotten about that. She leaned in to me.

"Georgie, I heard this was a place for toddlers and mental people to something.. Don't worry, I'll arrange a transfer school. You don't have to worry about it. You can go to Middleton Uni, your childhood dream."

Wait, no!

"Mum, this isn't a place for toddlers and mental people, or something! It's.. It's complicated!! But I'm happy here, I promise! Please, don't transfer me!"

She stared at me in shock. "Georgie.."

I wrapped her in a hug. "It's okay, mum."

"What is this agere then..?" She asked.

"Well, basically, it's a coping mechanism where anyone can regress to a younger mindspace-"

"So you're saying you want to stay here, pretending to be a child, and not get an education?" She looked practically horrified.

"No, mum, it's not like that! You wouldn't underst..." My words trailed off. The one thing my mother hated was people telling her that she wouldn't understand.

"Right. I see how it is. Well, I'll be off now. Have fun, Georgia. Oh, shoot, she used me full name. " uhmm, bye mum.."

She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek then I had to watch as she walked out of the doors. I couldn't help it. The tears came rushing to my eyes. I sank into her chair. Why did I have to ruin everything? Why, why why? Everything was great until I opened my fat mouth..

Zander walked over to me. In a soft, gentle voice, he said, "how about we get you home, Georgia?"

This wasn't my real home. With my mother. Who now I had wrecked everything with. I nodded miserably. I didn't want to see daddy. That would bring me back to this reality, that I'm stuck her. I can't go back home anymore. I've ruined things, yet again.