Rainbow Diapers

Chapter 151 strips away spectacle and lets the quiet moments speak. As Sally recovers from the flu, care arrives without fuss: gentle routines, steady hands, long sleep, and the calm reassurance of people who know exactly how to be there. But beneath the softness, something shifts. A doctor’s offhand wisdom, an unexpected magazine feature, and the echo of engines on asphalt remind Sally that healing isn’t just about rest—it’s about returning to herself. This chapter moves from sickbed to sunlight, from stillness to motion, capturing that fragile, powerful space where comfort, ambition, and identity settle into balance—without drama, but with lasting weight.   Chapter 151 – Without Drama LNGU Little Melodies had arrived quietly, tucked into a plain delivery box that gave no hint of what was inside. When Bridget opened it and set the contents on Sally’s bed, even Sally—pale, bundled in blankets, eyes still heavy with flu—lifted her head with mild amusement. “Katrina”, she murmured, rolling her eyes. “They’re… cute,” she murmured. The new diapers were soft and bright in a gentle, almost storybook way. In the back, a trio playing together. A small penguin playing a saxophone, next to a round panda, sitting peacefully playing a drum and a sweet cat playing a small xylophone. In the front, a dancing penguin. “Little Melodies,” Bridget read aloud from the card, smiling. “I thought you’d like these—Love Katrina” Sally traced one of the prints lightly with her finger, more amused than embarrassed. “They look like they belong in a bedtime book,” she said, her voice soft. “That’s the idea,” Patricia chuckled from the armchair. “Nothing dramatic. Just… comforting.” Sally nodded, a faint smile settling in. Between the fever, the quiet house, and the simple sweetness of the designs, it felt like one more small kindness layered into the day—nothing to think about, nothing to explain. Just something gentle, doing its job, while she rested and let herself heal. Sally carried one of the new diapers with her into the bathroom, tucked under her arm the way she might have carried a fresh towel. There was no ceremony to it—just practicality, and the quiet understanding that comfort mattered right now. The shower did its work again. Steam filled the room, loosening the tightness in her chest, easing the dull ache behind her eyes. She took her time, letting the water run over her shoulders, rinsing away the day, the feverish sweat, the diaper aftermath, the weight of feeling unwell. When she stepped out, skin warm and pink, hair wrapped in a towel, she felt lighter—clean in that deep, reset-the-system way. She diapered herself slowly, deliberately. Dry. Relaxed. Protected. This time she didn’t bother with pajama pants. Just a soft top and the quiet reassurance of being taken care of—by the things around her, and by the people who loved her. Back in her room, the lights were low. Bridget was already there, smoothing the sheets, fluffing the pillows the way only a mother does—half habit, half instinct. “Come on, sweetheart,” she murmured. Sally climbed into bed without protest. Bridget helped settle the covers around her, tugged them just right, pressed a cool hand briefly to Sally’s forehead. It was a small ritual, practiced and gentle, and Sally closed her eyes for a moment as it happened. From the sofa, Patricia watched quietly. She just gave a small nod, approval mixed with affection. This was how it should be, she thought. No drama. Just care. Downstairs, the doorbell chimed. Jana was already moving, opening the door with her usual efficiency as Dr. Costa stepped inside, her voice floating up faintly from below. Calm. Reassuring. Another layer of safety arriving right on time. Upstairs, Sally shifted slightly, sighed, and let herself rest. -- Dr. Costa knocked lightly before opening the door, giving Sally just enough warning to color faintly and tug the blanket a fraction higher. “Come in,” Sally said anyway, voice a little hoarse but steady. She hadn’t taken the doctor’s visit into account. Patricia and Jana exchanged a glance from the doorway. “We’ll give you some privacy,” Patricia said gently. “Yell if you need reinforcements.” Jana nodded. “I’ll be downstairs. Doctor, she’s been good. Mostly.” “Mostly is excellent,” Dr. Costa replied, smiling as the door closed behind them. She set her bag down and perched on the edge of the bed with the easy confidence of someone who had done this a thousand times. “All right, Sally. How are you doing now—honest version.” Sally shrugged, then winced slightly. “Headache. Coughing a lot. Throat hurts, but not as bad since the meds. And if I stand up too fast, the room does a little carousel thing.” Dr. Costa pressed her lips together and nodded, unsurprised. “That all tracks. Flu plus bronchial irritation. Annoying, not dramatic.” She leaned in just a bit. “And I want you to hear this clearly: this is the worst of it. From here on out, you’re on the downhill side.” Sally let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Good. Because I feel… wrung out.” “You look tired,” Dr. Costa said kindly. “The good kind. The kind that comes before real sleep.” Sally gave a small, sleepy smile. “That medicine didn’t help me stay awake this afternoon.” “Excellent,” Dr. Costa said brightly. “That means it’s doing its job.” Bridget appeared at the bedside then, hand resting lightly on the mattress. “Do you need me here?” “Yes, please,” Dr. Costa said. “She’s my favorite assistant.” Sally rolled her eyes faintly. “I don’t remember agreeing to that.” Dr. Costa laughed and opened her bag. “Vitals first. Temperature.” She slipped the thermometer into place, waited, then checked it. “Down a bit. That’s encouraging.” She moved with practiced efficiency—blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter—calling out numbers softly more for Bridget’s reassurance than anything else. “All very acceptable,” she said. “Now, Sally, can you lean forward for me? Just a little.” Sally nodded and shifted, moving carefully. Dr. Costa lifted the hem of her pajama top just enough to place the stethoscope properly on Sally’s bare back. “Deep breath in,” she instructed. Sally inhaled, coughed once, then tried again. She felt herself fidget, her diaper fully visible to the doctor’s eyes. “That’s fine,” Dr. Costa said calmly, moving the stethoscope from one spot to the next. “Again.” She listened in focused silence, tapped lightly once, then leaned back with a satisfied nod. “Still clear. Some upper airway noise, but your lungs are behaving beautifully.” Bridget’s shoulders dropped in relief. “Thank you.” Dr. Costa smiled at her. “She’s doing everything right.” She glanced down at Sally, eyes warm. “And I see you’ve chosen maximum comfort mode. The nice kind.” Sally’s ears went pink. “Yeah. I figured… if I’m sick, I might as well not fight it.” “Exactly,” Dr. Costa said, approving. “I read it in your history. You’ve learned to work with your body instead of against it. Not everyone does. And you do it without drama.” She added, lightly, “Also, you may be the only patient who manages it in such a—” she paused, choosing her word carefully, “—endearing way.” Sally groaned softly. “Everyone keeps saying that.” “Because it’s true,” Bridget said, smoothing Sally’s hair back. “Only the best for her.” Dr. Costa closed her bag. “Here’s the plan: fluids, sleep, meds as prescribed. If the cough spikes again tonight, use the suppressant. Otherwise, let your body rest.” She stood and looked down at Sally. “You’re doing well. Tonight is about sleeping. Long, boring, healing sleep.” Sally nodded, eyes already heavy. “I think I can manage boring.” “I knew you could,” Dr. Costa said warmly. “I’ll check in tomorrow. For now—goodnight, champ.” “Dr. Costa…?” she murmured. Silvia turned back, smiling. “Yes?” Sally hesitated, then smiled sheepishly. “I see your cars when I jog past your place. The McLaren and the GT3. They’re… hard to miss.” Dr. Costa laughed, low and warm. “Ah. So my cover is blown.” “You have a McLaren 720,” Sally said, matter-of-fact, then added, “And a Porsche GT3. White. Wing. Loud in a very polite way.” “Very polite,” Dr. Costa agreed. “But you haven’t seen everything.” Sally’s eyebrows lifted, interest cutting through the fog. “There’s more?” “Oh yes,” Dr. Costa said lightly. “A G-Class for practicality, and for the dogs. And a Bentley Continental convertible for days when I pretend I’m not a doctor.” Sally chuckled, the sound dissolving into a soft cough. “That’s… excessive.” “It is,” Dr. Costa agreed cheerfully. “I earned it by listening to people cough for a living.” Sally shifted against the pillows. “So which one’s your favorite?” Dr. Costa didn’t answer immediately. She leaned back against the chair, thoughtful. “The GT3 is pure joy. Honest. Communicative. It tells you everything it’s doing. The McLaren?” She smiled. “That one is speed and theater. You don’t drive it so much as make an entrance.” Sally nodded slowly. “GT3, then.” Dr. Costa’s eyes flicked to her, amused. “You didn’t even hesitate.” “I like cars that talk back,” Sally said. “I’ve been doing track training. A lot. It ruined normal driving for me.” “Oh, I know,” Dr. Costa said, knowingly. “Once the bug bites, it doesn’t let go.” Sally hesitated, then admitted, “If I ever got a Porsche… I think I’d want something like that.” Dr. Costa smiled, but shook her head gently. “Not yet.” Sally frowned. “Why not?” “Because the smartest drivers start simple,” Dr. Costa said. “A Porsche 718 is a brilliant beginning. Balanced. Forgiving. Fast enough to teach you respect without punishing curiosity.” She leaned forward slightly. “Train with it. Learn. Upgrade wisely. Porsche notices drivers who grow with the brand. If you do it right, they start calling you. Limited allocations. Factory personalization. Cars that don’t lose value—only stories.” Sally’s eyes shone, fever forgotten for a moment. “So… patience.” “Always,” Dr. Costa said. “Cars reward patience more than money.” From the doorway, Bridget shook her head softly, smiling despite herself. “I came in to check on my sick daughter and found a car seminar.” Sally glanced at her, unrepentant. “I’m resting my body. My brain is fine.” Dr. Costa laughed. “She’ll recover faster thinking about cars. It’s practically therapeutic.” Bridget sighed, amused. “You’re all impossible.” Sally settled back into the pillows, eyes heavy again but smiling. “Best kind of impossible,” she murmured. Dr. Costa dimmed the light slightly. “Sleep now. We’ll talk cars again when you’re less… pharmaceutical.” Sally nodded, already drifting. “Deal.” -- The room had settled into that rare, perfect stillness—no rushing, no expectation, no need to be anywhere else. Sally lay propped against a careful fortress of pillows, the kind assembled by people who loved her and had learned, through trial and fear, exactly how her body rested best. The lamps were dimmed low, the curtains drawn just enough to let the outside world know it still existed, without asking anything of her. Her diaper was still dry, and she enjoyed the feeling of it – high waisted, soft, jut a bit bulky. They reminded her of the elephant diapers Katrina had treated Theresa and her. Patricia sat beside her, back against the headboard, legs tucked in, laptop balanced on her knees. A decorator’s vlog played softly on the screen—neutral voices, calm colors, gentle transformations of spaces that promised order and beauty without urgency. Car talk had done its quiet miracle earlier. Sally’s mind, once tangled in fever and discomfort, felt soothed now, pleasantly occupied, as if someone had straightened the wires behind her eyes. At nine sharp, Patricia noticed it. Sally’s blinks were slower. Her head tipped, corrected itself, tipped again. She fought it, stubborn even in exhaustion. “You’re losing,” Patricia said softly, smiling. “I’m not asleep,” Sally murmured, eyes half-closed. “Just… evaluating the paint choices.” “Mmm. Very thorough,” Patricia replied. She reached over, paused the video, and turned off the TV screen. Then, without ceremony, she stood, turned off the lamp, and moved with practiced quiet—pulling the blanket higher, adjusting the pillow at Sally’s shoulder, making sure everything sat just right. Sally opened one eye. “Thank you,” she whispered. Patricia looked down at her, warm and steady. “Anytime. You’d do the same for me.” Sally nodded, but the thought lingered—how strange and tender it felt to be cared for like this by someone almost her own age. Not pity. Not obligation. Just presence. The door opened softly. Bridget stepped in, her movements careful, reverent. She leaned down and kissed Sally’s forehead, then her hair, then lingered just long enough to let the moment settle. “Sleep well, sweetheart,” she whispered. “You’re safe.” Sally breathed out, something deep and quiet loosening inside her chest. “Night, Mom.” Bridget smiled and slipped back out, joining Jana and Patricia down the hall. Their voices murmured briefly—soft laughter, the easy cadence of people who had carried the day together and were laying it down gently. And then there was only sleep. Real sleep.  The kind that doesn’t hover or bargain. The kind that takes you whole. -- Sally slept for twelve uninterrupted hours. No coughing. No drifting. No half-waking fear. Just deep, steady rest. When she woke, the light was different—clean, morning-bright, filtering through the blinds with promise instead of demand. She lay still for a moment, assessing. Her full diaper made itself known as she shifted around under the blankets. Her chest felt almost clear. Her throat a little rough, like it had been sanded smooth and needed time to polish. Her body felt light—weak, yes, but in a healing way. No fever. She smiled faintly. Carefully, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms over her dry, well-used protection, and stood. The floor felt solid beneath her feet. Real. She stepped into the hallway, slow but steady. Alive. Relaxed. Normal—almost. -- Sally took the stairs slowly, more out of habit than necessity. The house was quiet in that late-morning way—not asleep, not busy yet. Sunlight spilled across the floors, soft and forgiving. The smell of fresh coffee pulled her forward like a promise. Patricia sat at the dining table, laptop open, one hand wrapped around a mug. She looked up first and smiled—relieved, observant. In the kitchen, Bridget turned at the faint crinkle of diaper and the soft thud of bare feet. “Sally,” she said instantly, brightness blooming across her face. “You look rested.” She crossed the space and hugged her daughter, careful but full, the kind of embrace that checked everything without asking. Sally let herself be held, then shrugged lightly. “Yeah. I sort of feel better. Much better,” she said, her eyes already drifting toward the coffee machine like it might vanish if she didn’t keep it in sight. Bridget released her and laughed. “Sit. What do you want for breakfast?” She was already rolling up her sleeves, apron halfway on. Sally perched on a stool, thinking. “Eggs? Toast…?” she trailed off, indecisive but hopeful. Bridget tilted her head. “How about we add bacon, avocado… maybe some fruit?” Sally didn’t hesitate this time. “All of the above.” Patricia rose from the table and came up behind Sally just as she settled in. She tugged gently at the waistband of Sally’s pajama top. “Diaper’s showing,” she teased, sotto voce. Sally laughed, warm and unbothered. “Good morning to you too,” she said, clearing her throat and reaching for the coffee Bridget slid toward her. Patricia sat beside her. “Morning’s half-gone. You look a lot better, though.” “Feeling better,” Sally nodded, taking a careful sip. “A bit off, but I guess it’s flu hangover.” “That’s the hangover to have,” Patricia said lightly. “You wouldn’t want any other. Or so I hear.” “You hear correctly,” Jana’s voice cut in as she came down the hall, backpack over one shoulder, already in work mode. She paused, took in the scene—Sally upright, coffee in hand, smiling. “I see Sally up and functioning,” Jana observed. “Some schoolwork needs resuscitating.” Sally raised a hand defensively as Jana leaned in for a hug. “Still officially sick,” she declared. “Homework cancels recovery.” Jana considered this. “Fine. Some reading after lunch.” “After siesta,” Sally countered instantly. Jana nodded once. “Deal. After siesta.” Bridget set a plate in front of Sally—eggs soft and perfect, bacon crisp, avocado bright with lemon, fruit neatly arranged. She added a tall glass of orange juice with ceremonial care. “Doctor would approve,” she said. Patricia tapped her phone, then looked up. “Oh—speaking of reading. Charlie sent me something this morning. An article. Opinion column, I think.” She smiled slightly. “It mentions you.” Sally blinked. “Mentions me?” “Apparently one of his school friends sent it to him,” Patricia continued. “Charlie thought you might want to read it.” Jana raised an eyebrow. Bridget paused mid-motion. Sally took a bite of toast, thoughtful, then looked up. “Well,” she said carefully, “now I definitely want to see it.” The quiet kitchen seemed to lean in, waiting. -- OPINION BY MARCUS VELDT Senior Contributor, Speed & Track Magazine   THE GIRL IN THE GREY 135i   I’ve driven a lot of fast cars. I’ve watched gods in carbon helmets throw million-dollar machines sideways into Turn 3 like it was choreography. I’ve interviewed engineers who explain torque vectoring with the passion of poets. But this week, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, I saw something I can’t stop thinking about. I was there to run a back-to-back test on two factory specials—the new Cayman GT4 RS and a 911 GT3. Typical press slot: pre-cleared track, helmet on standby, coffee in one hand, phone in the other. But as I waited at pit wall, I heard it. Not the synthetic scream of something new, but the unmistakable rasp of an old-school straight-six, working through gears like it had something to prove. The car was nothing remarkable at first glance—a track-prepped BMW 135i. Paint faded in places. Suspension taut. Tires sticky. Purpose-built, but humble. It wasn’t the car that caught my attention. It was the way it moved. Hesitant at first. Patient. Then sharp. Fast. Wild. Controlled. Conflicted. The kind of driving that tells a story. It turned out the story was still being written. After a full cool-down lap, the BMW coasted into the paddock. The driver got out and stayed by the car for a moment, helmet still on, hunched over with hands on knees. The intensity of the session had taken its toll. Then the helmet came off. And the paddock paused. She looked young. Messy ponytail. No team shirt. No photographer. Just a girl catching her breath like she’d just run the Nürburgring barefoot. When she finally looked up, I recognized her face—not from the paddock, but from the press. Sally Weiss. Yes. That Sally Weiss. Heiress. Human-interest headline. Plane-crash survivor. Quiet philanthropist. And, apparently, track addict. I didn’t approach her. Not right away. She didn’t notice me, nor did she need to. She was busy debriefing with a local instructor—one of the good ones, judging by the exchange and the nods of quiet approval. I stood there, feeling something rare at a racetrack like this. Surprise. What was she doing? Learning. Driving. Testing herself. Her lines weren’t perfect. A few apexes were missed. One exit bordered on agricultural. But then came that lap—the one where it all clicked. The 135i turned in like a go-kart, rotated through Turn 6 with just a kiss of lift-off oversteer, and powered out with the kind of throttle control that only comes from listening to a car. She wasn’t being fast. She was becoming fast. And somehow, she was still smiling afterward. The internet knows Sally Weiss as a teenage billionaire in sneakers and an oversized hoodie, posing next to a Ford Fiesta and ordering cortaditos in Coral Gables. But I’ve now seen her in Nomex—sweat-soaked, laser-focused—pushing a tired Bavarian coupe well past its comfort zone. I’ve driven with amateurs who thought they were gods, and pros who forgot they were human. But Sally reminded me of something simpler. What it looks like when someone falls in love with the machine. No pretense. No Instagram crew. No telemetry team. Just a girl, a gearbox, and clean asphalt ahead. The photo accompanying this column—taken by me, and which Miss Weiss agreed to pose for—shows her standing beside the BMW later that day. Hair tied back. Face sun-kissed. Hands dusty with brake dust. She’s smiling in that offhand way people do when they think no one is paying attention. I don’t think she really knew who I was. Which makes it even better. Because sometimes the best drivers aren’t born in simulators or funded by corporations. Sometimes they just show up on a Wednesday, borrow an instructor, and drive the wheels off an old 135i until it makes sense. Watch this space. Sally Weiss is not just learning how to drive. She’s learning how to fly—without ever leaving the ground. — Marcus Veldt has been writing about cars, speed, and the soul of driving for over two decades. He once missed his own wedding because a V12 needed “just one more lap.” -- Sally read the headline twice. Then a third time. She sat at the kitchen counter, one knee pulled up on the stool, coffee cooling in her hands, the tablet resting against the fruit bowl. The words felt unreal in a very specific way—not exaggerated, not wrong, just… strangely intimate. “The Girl in the Grey 135i.” “That’s… me,” she murmured, blinking. She scrolled slowly, carefully, as if the text might shift under her fingers if she moved too fast. Paragraph by paragraph, her expression changed—confusion first, then disbelief, then something softer and harder to name. “I remember him,” she said finally, breaking the silence. “He was just… standing there. Polite. Quiet. Asked if he could take a photo, said it was for his notes. I thought he was a vlogger or something.” Jana leaned against the counter, arms crossed, reading over Sally’s shoulder without asking. “Vlogger,” she repeated dryly. “Senior contributor. Speed & Track. That’s like thinking a Supreme Court justice is a courthouse tour guide.” Sally shot her a look. “He didn’t act like a big deal.” “Exactly,” Jana replied. “That’s how you know he is one.” Patricia had already pulled the article up on her phone and was grinning openly, scrolling back up to the top as if she wanted to read it again from the beginning. “Sally,” she said, warm and earnest, “this is really good. Like… really good. He didn’t make you sound like a novelty.” Sally swallowed. “That’s what’s messing with me. He didn’t make me sound rich. Or tragic. Or… sponsored.” She scrolled again, rereading a line about missed apexes and becoming fast. Her lips pressed together. “He saw everything,” she whispered. Bridget, who had been hovering near the coffee machine pretending not to listen, finally sighed and came closer. She glanced at the screen, and shook her head slowly. “Your father sends you to driver training,” she said, half to herself, half to the room, “and suddenly you’re an opinion column.” Sally smiled faintly. “A nice one.” “I can see that,” Bridget replied, but there was a mix of awe and concern in her eyes. “I just wonder sometimes what doors you’re opening without realizing it.” Patricia leaned over and squeezed Sally’s shoulder. “The good kind. This is the good kind.” Jana nodded once. “Also,” she added, tapping the screen, “you’re the central highlight on the homepage. That’s not nothing.” Sally’s eyes widened. “Wait—what?” Patricia turned her phone so Sally could see. The article sat front and center on the magazine’s website, flanked by glossy photos of cars that probably cost more than houses. “Oh,” Sally breathed. “Oh wow.” She laughed softly, a little overwhelmed. “I guess… I’ll have to subscribe to the print edition now. It feels rude not to.” Jana smirked. “I’ll mark it as a professional expense.” Patricia beamed. “Perfect.” Bridget watched her daughter—pale but smiling, hair still a little wild from being sick, eyes bright with something that looked like purpose—and shook her head again, this time with a small, helpless smile. “My daughter,” she said softly, “falls in love with cars and ends up in magazines.” Sally looked up, amused and a little shy. “Sorry, mom.” Bridget kissed the top of her head. “Don’t be. Just… promise me you’ll keep both feet on the ground.” Sally smiled to herself, thinking of apexes, throttle control, and the way a car felt when it finally listened back. “I think,” she said quietly, “that’s exactly what I’m learning how to do.” -- Charlie’s name came up gently, the way it always did—like a small spark that warmed the room without demanding attention. Patricia sat sideways at the table, one knee tucked under her, phone face-down now that the article had been properly admired. She watched Sally poke at her eggs, clearly more interested in listening than eating. “Oh, he’s impressed,” Patricia said, smiling to herself. “Very impressed. He tried not to be obvious about it, but he failed.” Sally glanced up, a little color rising in her cheeks. “He is?” Patricia laughed. “Completely. He read the article twice, then sent it to his group chat. Then pretended it wasn’t a big deal.” Jana, passing through with her tablet, muttered, “Classic.” Patricia continued, warming to the story. “You have to remember, half his friends already knew you. Hartford’s not that big. To them you’re not ‘that Sally Weiss from the internet.’ You’re ‘Sally who used to sit two tables away at lunch and ‘Sally who flew in a Gulfstream and never showed off.’” Sally ducked her head, suddenly very interested in her toast. “That feels… strange.” “In a good way,” Patricia said quickly. “They were proud. That’s the word. Proud. One of his friends said—oh, what was it—‘She didn’t get written up because she’s rich. She got written up because she can drive.’” Sally froze for half a second. Bridget noticed immediately and nudged another forkful of eggs onto her daughter’s plate. “Eat,” she said softly, firmly. “You can glow afterward.” Sally obeyed, chewing slowly, the warmth spreading through her chest this time not from fever but from something steadier. Patricia softened her voice. “Charlie didn’t say much. He just asked me if you were… happy. Like, really happy. Doing that.” Sally swallowed. “I am,” she said quietly. “I really am.” Patricia reached over and squeezed her knee, careful, sisterly. “It shows.” Bridget watched the two girls with a thoughtful expression, taking in the scene—her daughter still in pajamas and diapers, still recovering, still fragile in small ways, but visibly lighter than she had been in days. “Well,” she said, picking up Sally’s empty glass, “if being written about by serious journalists and admired by teenage boys is part of your recovery plan, I suppose we can allow it.” Sally smiled, shy and content, leaning back slightly in her chair. “Just don’t tell Charlie I heard all that,” she murmured. Patricia grinned. “Too late. He already knows you listen better than you think.” The house stayed quiet after that—full, warm, and ordinary in the best possible way—as Sally finished her breakfast, feeling held by stories, by care, and by the slow, unmistakable sense of getting better. -- Thursday arrived quietly, the way good days often do—without fanfare, without pressure, just a gentle easing back into the world. Sally stood in front of her mirror for a long moment before getting dressed. No pajamas this time. No diaper. No safety cocoon. Just soft lounge pants, a faded hoodie, and the faint, unfamiliar relief of feeling… solid again. A little weak, sure. Her legs still carried a hint of yesterday’s heaviness, and her chest reminded her—politely—that it had been through something. But she was upright. Clear-eyed. Herself. Down the hall, Patricia noticed immediately. “Well, look at you,” she said, leaning against the doorframe with a mug of tea in hand. “Out of bed. Vertical. Fashion has returned.” Sally smiled, tugging lightly at the sleeves of her hoodie. “Don’t get excited. This is my ‘recovering but cooperative’ look.” Patricia walked over and did what she’d been doing all week without making a thing of it—straightened Sally’s hood, smoothed a wrinkle, checked her face with a quiet, older-sister glance. “How do you feel, honestly?” “Like I ran a marathon last week and only just remembered I have legs,” Sally said. Then, softer, “But… better. I feel better.” “Good,” Patricia said, nodding once. “Then today we rejoin civilization. Slowly. With snacks.” Sally laughed. It came easily now, without turning into a cough. That alone felt like a victory. Late morning brought the sound that made Sally’s head snap toward the window. “That’s not—” she paused, listening. “No way.” A white Porsche 911 GT3 rolled into the driveway with understated confidence, sunlight catching on its curves like it had been waiting for the moment. Sally was already halfway to the door. Dr. Costa stepped out, sunglasses perched on her nose, keys in hand, perfectly unhurried. “You look alive,” she called cheerfully. “Excellent prognosis.” Sally grinned. “Nice!” Dr. Costa glanced back at it, then at Sally. “One of my vices. Want to say hello properly?” Minutes later, Sally found herself seated in the driver’s seat, hands resting lightly on the wheel, breathing in that unmistakable blend of Alcantara, precision, and possibility. “This is… different,” Sally murmured. “Everything feels so tight. Purposeful.” Dr. Costa leaned against the doorframe. “That’s because it is. This car doesn’t forgive nonsense—but it rewards respect. Like most good things.” Sally looked up at her. “You still think a 718 is a good place to start?” Dr. Costa smiled. “Especially now that I know you’re patient. The fast ones come later. Always. I can give you my Porsche dealer contact, but you’ll have to convince your father.” The checkup itself was quick and reassuring. Lungs clear. Fever gone. Strength returning right on schedule. “You did exactly what you were supposed to,” Dr. Costa said, packing up. “Rest. Listen. Recover. That’s harder than it sounds for people like you.” Sally nodded, a little proud. “I had help.” Dr. Costa glanced toward the living room, where Patricia was visible through the glass. “I can tell.” By early afternoon, Jana reappeared with her tablet and that particular look—the one that meant compassion had a schedule. “Alright,” she announced, setting up in the downstairs office nook. “Back to being a student. No heroics. Couch-adjacent learning only.” Sally sank into the comfortable chair, legs tucked up, laptop balanced just so. “I feel ambushed.” “You feel educated,” Jana corrected dryly. “Big difference.” Patricia brought snacks. Bridget hovered once, then retreated, reassured by the quiet normalcy of it all. Sally read. Took notes. Asked questions. Got distracted once, then pulled herself back. It wasn’t the intensity of the track, or the fog of illness—just the steady hum of being present again. At one point, Patricia looked over from the sofa and caught Sally mid-sentence, explaining something with her hands, eyes bright. There she is, Patricia thought. Not rushing. Not fading. Just… returning. And for the first time in days, Sally didn’t feel like she was recovering. She felt like she was reentering. -- By Friday, Sally had found her rhythm again. Not the relentless, overachieving cadence people expected of her—but a quieter, steadier pace that felt earned. Mornings at the desk. Afternoons broken into manageable stretches. Reading that demanded attention, essays that asked for clarity rather than speed. Olivia and Otto checked in with messages that carried equal parts concern and confidence, gently easing her back into their mentorship program without ceremony or pressure. “We’re not going anywhere,” Olivia had written. “Health first. Brilliance follows.” Sally had smiled at that. Her formal schooling never really paused. The academy in New Hampshire—small, discreet, almost mythically selective—ran like clockwork. Coursework arrived precisely organized: mathematics that required discipline, philosophy that asked uncomfortable questions, history that refused to stay polite, sciences that demanded rigor, languages that sharpened thought as much as speech. It was a lot. But it always had been. What made the difference now was Patricia. Not hovering. Not instructing. Just present. Working at the opposite end of the table, tapping quietly at her laptop, occasionally pushing a sticky note across the surface with a reminder or a joke scribbled in the margin. Camaraderie without competition. Company without demand. It struck Sally, more than once, that this was Patricia’s last year of high school. College loomed for her—real, immediate, unavoidable. And Sally, barely sixteen, found herself thinking about that future not with anxiety, but with a strange, thoughtful curiosity. Time wasn’t rushing her. But it was, unmistakably, moving. Late afternoon found them outside, stretched into the easy warmth of the backyard, feet propped up on low chairs facing the canal. The water moved lazily, reflecting palm fronds and passing yachts. They waved absently at neighbors who drifted by, faces half-hidden behind sunglasses and slow smiles. “Tell me about youth group,” Sally said, breaking the quiet. Patricia laughed softly. “Out of nowhere?” “You always deflect,” Sally said. “Humor me.” Patricia leaned back, squinting into the sun. “Mostly the same. Too many snacks, not enough chairs. Some surprisingly deep conversations, some painfully shallow ones.” She paused, smirking. “Although Jana’s voice is definitely missing from the microphones during praise.” Sally snorted. “I can imagine.” “She pretends she doesn’t like it,” Patricia continued, “but everyone notices when she’s not there. It’s quieter. Less… anchored. You should come see for yourself.” They fell into a comfortable silence. Sally’s gaze drifted across the water, her expression turning inward. “Maybe I’ll come,” she said eventually. Patricia turned her head. “Come where?” “See for myself,” Sally replied simply. Patricia’s eyebrows lifted. “You serious?” Sally nodded, a small, contained smile forming. “Maybe.” Patricia checked her phone absently. “Dad’s flying back tonight. I could leave tomorrow. Or Saturday.” Sally looked at her, thoughtful. “Don’t book anything yet.” Patricia studied her for a beat, then smiled slowly. “Alright,” she said. “I won’t.” The sun dipped lower. The week exhaled. And for the first time since getting sick, Sally felt not just recovered—but grounded, present, and quietly open to whatever came next.

I am glad she decided to be the BEST BABY she can .It will make mommy so happy , and her too . LOVE the story .

Part 4: It was dark already when Freddie and Donna were walking towards Brisson city park. It was lit dimly by a few lamps. Freddie switched on his flashlight and pointed at a fog between the trees on the far side of the park. “Look, Donna; this is the portal,” he stepped forward. Donna froze. Her eyes locked on the mysterious fog, and her courage faltered. Earlier that day, she had showed courage, but now she remembered everything she had heard about the Border; she quietly encouraged herself, “I am a courageous girl,” she whispered over and over. “Easy, sweetheart, everything is okay,” he encouraged her, took her trembling hand and continued slow walking. He felt her grip tighten as they approached the fog. “Now!”, Freddie stepped into the fog, and Donna closed her eyes and followed him. Despite her encouragement, her heart was racing, and the fear overwhelmed her. Monsters appeared before her closed eyes like a nightmare, and her muscles relaxed. A stream of pee soaked her diaper front, and a mass of poop filled its back. “Hey, open your eyes, we are behind the Border,” Freddie’s voice penetrated her mind. She opened her eyes carefully and looked at his smiling face, dimly illuminated by the flashlight. “Is everything okay?” his voice was quiet and calm. He hugged her and stroked her hair gently. “Yes, it is,” she calmed down, looked around and noticed a dark forest. There were no monsters around, and she could hear the leaves rustle in the slight breeze. “Let’s go then,” Freddie let go of her and pointed at the nearby path. She stepped forward and followed him; her fear disappeared when she saw the familiar scenery. After several steps , she felt her diaper heavy and warm. Seconds later, the smell revealed what happened. Donna ignored the dirty diaper; she was used to it. Freddie led her down the path, the flashlight still in his hand. About half an hour later, his house came into view. Freddie opened the door and stepped aside, letting Donna in, “Love, we are here. Look at our new daughter.” Marianne emerged from the living room and looked at Donna with warm eyes, “Welcome home, sweetheart,” she walked over and stopped before the girl. Donna was standing in awe in the hall. She hardly was able to process the last hour. Passing the Border, Freddie’s encouragement, the word “daughter”, and finally the lovely woman before her. “Is … this … a heaven?” she stuttered and stared at Marianne and the house wide-eyed, her jaw dropping. “No, sweetheart, this is home,” Marianne pulled her close and hugged her fiercely, “you are the courageous girl that passed the portal. Come with me; I’ll show you everything. Love, can you prepare a warm bath for Donna?” “Od course,” Freddie removed his shoes and headed towards the bathroom. “Miss …” Donna hesitated while taking off her shoes and jacket. “Marianne for you, sweetheart,” Marianne took her by hand and ushered her to the living room, kitchen, workroom, bedroom and finally the former Ann’s and Cindy’s room, “This is your new room,” Donna stared at the room, wide-eyed. It was large and beautiful, equipped with two beds, a table with two chairs, a cabinet and … a dollhouse in the far corner. The walls were painted in light pink. “Is … this … really my room?” she stuttered, and tears appeared in her eyes. She couldn’t believe it after the years in public centres. “Of course, sweetheart. This was Annie’s and Cindy’s room, but now, it is yours.” “The dollhouse?” Donna was confused. “You are free to play if you wish. I must reveal that Ann and Cindy played with dolls even if Cindy was 16,” Marianne grinned, “anyway, you need a clean diaper, a warm bath and a soft bed now, let’s go to the bathroom,” she led Donna to the large bathroom. The bathtub was filled with warm water and foam, and there was a large changing table mounted on the side wall. “We needed this changing table for Annie and Cindy, now it’s yours … and Annie’s when she comes to visit us. Will you undress yourself or should I help you?” Marianne looked at her. “W … what? Will you help me?” Donna was shocked again. She hadn’t experienced the assistance for long years. She always had to be independent except for the diaper changes. Now, her new caretaker offered her something unexpected … but there was gentleness in that offer. “Of course, sweetheart. You are a big girl, but you sometimes can accept a tender care,” Marianne encouraged her, and, to her surprise, Donna nodded. “Yes, please,” she almost whispered and looked at Marianne with curiosity and anticipation. Marianne nodded and started undressing her. She unbuttoned her shirt, unzipped her skirt, and pulled down her tights. “Lie down, sweetheart,” she pointed at the changing table. As Donna lay down, Marianne unbuttoned her rubber pants and cleaned most of the poop with the clean part of the diaper. She helped Donna down and into the tub, “enjoy the bath and don’t fall asleep there, I will come back later, “she left. Donna nodded, but she had to focus on keeping her eyes open. The warm water and exhaustion made her tired, and she dozed off for a few seconds two times. Marianne returned and looked at the sleepy girl, “Okay, let’s get ready for the night now,” she helped Donna out of the tub, wrapped her into a large towel and dried her thoroughly. As Donna lay down on the changing table, Marianne took a disposable diaper and lifted Donna’s behind to slide it under her. ”What is it?” Donna stared at the unfamiliar diaper, “it is thin, it won’t hold my pee.” “Don’t worry, Donna. This is comfortable and able to absorb all your pee in the night,” Marianne applied the rash cream and taped the diaper shut. Donna was surprised by the comfort, but she shook her head. She jumped down from the changing table and walked over to her new room. Marianne gave her Ann’s nightshirt and covered her when Donna lay down on the soft bed. “Good night sweetheart. You will need strength tomorrow,” Marianne leaned down, stroked Donna’s hair and kissed her forehead. Donna was shocked again, but she felt the warmness and tenderness in Marianne’s care. Five minutes later, her eyes closed, and a wide smile appeared on her face. She was at home and had two loving caretakers … or something else? Marianne switched off the light and left the room quietly. She sat down in the living room and looked at Freddie, “love, it is wonderful. Since Annie left, I have missed somebody to take care of. The poor girl needs it desperately.” “I know, love. We will do our best to help her forget the cruel ordeal she had to face before.” Before going to bed, Marianne put Donna’s clothes into the washing machine along with the rinsed diapers. The next day, Donna would wear clean clothes.

I try very hard not to wet my bed, but there is no effort at all when I wet my diaper in bed, just relax, feel the warmth, and go back to sleep.

Two bags of Fluffy Fly cloth back diapers and two bags of purple MegaMax USA diapers were delivered two days ago and I am up this morning in a wet and now messy Fluffy Fly diaper. So, the last time I messed my diaper is right now