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"And how was that journey for you?"
A wistful smile tugged at her lips. "As a child, I was drawn to things most kids outgrew. My peers were busy with makeup and dating, but I found comfort in my teddies and cartoons. It was isolating, to say the least. But then I discovered the age play community online. At first, there was fear, trepidation. But slowly, I found acceptance and peace."
She paused, her gaze resting on the calm waters of the lake. "Then there was this job listing for making an ad for a club. I didn’t know then that it was an age play club, or that it would change my life. But it did. I was nervous, the first time I stepped into the club. It was all so overwhelming. But then I met Elijah and Mike. They were kind and welcoming, making me feel like I was a part of something... a community, a family. I found a place where I belonged. A place where I could finally be... me."
"Did you really hate me the first time we spoke at the club?"
"Me? Hate you?" she gasped in feigned disbelief. Her lips curled into a grin. "You were the one who turned all scoldy on me, remember? Just after you saved me from choking on my food!"
She held my gaze, the warmth in her eyes dimming slightly as she confessed, "In all honesty, I wanted to hate you, Hank... because of my past... my ex."
Her gaze grew distant, her hands gripping the edges of her dress. My heart clenched at the sight of her. I wanted to reach out, to reassure her. But suddenly, a squeal of delight escaped her lips, breaking the heavy silence that had enveloped us.
"Look, Hank! Ducklings!" she exclaimed, her fingers pointing towards a group of ducklings waddling near the lake. “Shouldn’t they be sleeping this late in the night?”
I chuckled at the swift change in her mood, the sight of her wide-eyed excitement endearing. Her joy was infectious, and I couldn't help but join her as we knelt on the grass, watching the ducklings approach us after initial hesitation.
As she scampered around, her hands outstretched towards the fluffy yellow creatures, I could hardly keep up with her vivacity. She was a whirlwind of excitement, the embodiment of sheer joy that had the corners of my eyes crinkling.
"Lina, be careful!" I found myself calling out to her, trying to play the responsible Daddy as she chased after the ducklings.
"But Hank, they're so cute!" she called back, giggling as she continued her playful pursuit. I couldn't help but laugh at her antics, my heart swelling with affection for this woman who wore her heart on her sleeve.
In an endearing attempt to bond with the ducklings, she started mimicking their waddle, even quacking intermittently. The sight of her waddling, her arms flapping comically at her sides was so absurdly adorable that I couldn't resist the chuckles that bubbled up within me.
Once the mama duck guided her ducklings back into the waters of the lake, we made our way back to our bench, settling into the comfortable silence. Lina rested her head on my shoulder, her body leaning into mine in a quiet admission of trust.
"You know, you don't have to talk about your past relationship if you don't want to." I murmured, my hand reaching out to squeeze hers reassuringly.
I felt her head bob against my shoulder as she sighed deeply. "No, Hank. I want to get it over with. I want you to know."
Her words started to paint a picture of a man named Finn, of a time when she had felt special, cherished. Her voice softened as she recalled their first meeting at a music festival. He'd been drawn to her love for indie bands, and she to his charming eloquence.
"And then there was the time," she continued, her voice wistful, "when he drove all the way across town in the middle of the night just to bring me my favorite cupcakes because I was having a bad day."
As she shared these intimate moments, I could see the glimmers of that old happiness reflecting in her eyes. Yet, the light was quickly overshadowed by a deeper, lingering fear.
"But soon," her voice trembled, "I discovered it was all an act. He wasn't a very nice person."
Her body stiffened against mine, the mirthful glint in her eyes replaced by an overwhelming fear. As she confided that the relationship had ended badly, I felt a knot forming in my gut. She left much unsaid, and I wondered, with a cold dread seeping into me, if Finn had mistreated her.
I tightened my arm around her, pulling her closer to me. "Hey," I began, my voice firm yet gentle, "remember, he's not in your life anymore. You're safe now."
"I’m not so sure about that. I've been seeing signs of Finn's return," Lina admitted, her voice shaky. The fear in her eyes was palpable, her normally vibrant gaze dulled by the return of this ghost from her past. She bit her lip nervously, adding, "But the signs stopped as abruptly as they started. It's all so strange."
Reaching over, I took her trembling hand in mine. "No matter what," I said firmly, "I'm with you. Finn or no Finn, I'm not going anywhere." The intensity of my promise seemed to calm her a bit.
I pointed towards the family of ducks in the lake. "You see those ducks over there? If Finn was a duck, he'd be the ugly duckling in that group."
Lina feigned offense, her eyebrows knitting together in mock indignation. "Take that back, Hank! All ducklings are cute in their own way."
Her protest was met with a smirk. "Well, I wouldn’t mind turning Finn into a duck. Then, at least, he’d have a chance to be cute," I joked, my words bringing a spark back to Lina's eyes. Her giggles echoed across the lake.
"I'd like to see you try, big guy," she teased, "But you don't even know what he looks like!"
Her challenge sparked a mischievous glint in my eyes. "I can imagine," I began, "He probably has a snake-like face, with beady eyes too close together, and hair like a toilet brush."
The laughter that bubbled up from Lina was like music to my ears. Spurred on by her response, I continued to paint an increasingly ridiculous picture of Finn. Each assumption was more outlandish than the last.
