Chapter 2
Daily life
Chapter Description: A new day begins and William will have to face the first consequences of his robbery.
William woke up feeling strangely light, as if he'd slept longer than usual. The sun streamed through the dining room curtains, illuminating the table where he was sitting. He rubbed his eyes, confused. When had he gotten to the dining room? He didn't remember getting out of bed, but there he was, sitting in front of a plate of scrambled eggs and toast, with a glass of orange juice beside him. Everything seemed normal, but something about the atmosphere felt... strange.
He looked around, hoping to see Sara or Tina, but he was alone. The house was silent except for the ticking of the living room clock. William took a sip of juice, trying to gather his thoughts. Had he dreamed about the serum? About the police? He couldn't remember clearly, but something in his mind told him that not everything was okay.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching from the kitchen. It was Sara, with a warm smile on her face. "Good morning, Prince," she said, approaching the table. "How did you sleep?"
William looked at her, confused. "Good morning, Sara. I slept well, I think. But... why do you call me 'Prince'? That's something new."
Sara laughed softly, as if she'd made a joke. "Oh, you know, I always call you that. You're my little prince."
William frowned, even more puzzled. "Little Prince? Don't call me that."
Sara looked at him with a tender expression, but didn't respond directly. Instead, she leaned closer and stroked his hair, something William found strangely comforting, though he couldn't understand why. "Sometimes I forget how fast you're growing," she murmured, as if talking to herself.
William was about to ask her what she meant when he heard more footsteps on the stairs. It was Tina, running down the stairs with her backpack slung over her shoulder. "Good morning, Mom! Good morning, Bobby! Hurry up, we're late for school!"
William looked at her, even more confused. "Bobby? Tina, that's no way to call your father."
Tina stopped dead in her tracks, looking at him with a look that was somewhere between amused and exasperated. "Bobby, don't start. Wait, did you make your own breakfast? Congratulations, little brother, that's very responsible of you."
William felt like the world was spinning around him. Why was everyone treating him so condescendingly? He was an adult, a respected scientist. What was going on? "Tina, Sara, is this some kind of weird joke? Why are you talking to me like this?"
Sara and Tina exchanged a look, as if sharing a private joke. "Come on, Bobby," Tina said, walking over and taking his hand. "We don't have time for games. Follow me."
William tried to resist, but Tina pulled him toward the door with surprising strength. "Wait, Tina, where are you taking me?"
Tina didn't respond. Instead, she led him to the living room mirror, where William could see his reflection for the first time since waking up. What he saw took his breath away.
William froze in front of the mirror, unable to tear his gaze away from his reflection. The 35-year-old man he knew was gone. In his place was a boy no more than 10 years old, his hair disheveled and his eyes wide with disbelief. He was wearing a school uniform, a white shirt and a blue sweater that was a bit too big for him. His hands, now small and chubby, gripped the edge of the mirror in disbelief.
"This... This can't be happening," William murmured, touching his face with a trembling hand. His voice, high and clear, sounded like a stranger's. "Is that me?"
Tina, who was standing behind William, looked at him with an expression that mixed amusement and satisfaction. "See? The mirror doesn't lie. You're not an adult. You're just my dumb twin brother, Bobby."
William looked at her, bewildered. "I'm not your twin! I'm William Kruerk! Your father!"
Tina giggled, as if she were enjoying the situation. "Of course, Dad. Sorry I didn't notice sooner." Despite being partially what William wanted to hear, his daughter's sing-song tone only served to annoy him. "Now, Dad, we have to go. The bus will be here any moment."
William felt panic beginning to take hold. “No, I don’t plan on going anywhere with you unless you tell me what’s going on.”
Sara, who had been watching the scene from the dining room table, picked up a backpack and approached with a tender expression. "Bobby, honey, playtime's over. You know we don't like it when you make up stories and take them so seriously." She gently guided William to put the backpack on his back.
William looked at her, feeling frustration and fear mixing in his chest. "Sara, please, this isn't a fantasy. Look at me! Your husband!"
Sara sighed, as if tired of his "antics." "Bobby, that's enough. We're not going to discuss this again. Come on, Tina's right. If you don't leave now, you'll be late for school."
William felt his world crumble around him. Why didn't anyone recognize him? Why did everyone treat him like a child? He tried to remember how he'd gotten into this situation, but his mind was foggy, as if someone had erased almost all of his memories before waking up in the kitchen.
"Tina, Sara, please listen to me," he said, his voice sounding more like a plea than a command. "Something has happened. Something... something has changed me. I'm not a child. I'm an adult!"
Tina looked at him with an expression that was almost pitying. "Bobby, we've talked about this. You just have a strong imagination. But look, you're a boy, and you're my son," Sara said, tenderly taking William's shoulders and turning him so he could see the reflection of that boy surrounded by his family again. "You always have been. Now, come on, we don't have time for this."
William felt tears begin to burn his eyes. "No... I... I don't want to go to school. I'm scared."
Sara gently pulled him close and hugged him, something that William found irritatingly comforting. "Bobby, darling, you have nothing to be afraid of. Tina will be at school with you, and before you know it, you'll be back home. You have nothing to worry about."
William wanted to protest, but the words wouldn't come out. Sara released him from her embrace, and Tina took his hand again, leading him toward the front door.
William tried to resist as Tina led him toward the door, but her movements were clumsy, as if his body no longer belonged to him. He looked back at the mirror as he walked away, but before he knew it, that reflection of a child with eyes full of terror was left behind.
"Okay, Bobby!" Tina said, her voice almost sing-song as she leaned forward to gently wipe the tears from William's face. "See? It's over now. You don't have to tell those lies. I promise, as long as I'm with you, those mean kids won't bother you again."
William wanted to escape, but for some reason, the sense of security Tina gave off was somehow helping him regain some of his composure. "I'm a big boy. You don't have to defend me. I can do it myself," William said weakly, sniffling a few snots in the process.
Tina laughed, as if enjoying William's new attitude. "Bobby, I'm your sister, and I'll always protect you. Besides, if we're late again, Miss Martinez will punish you again, and I won't be able to save you this time."
William nodded, agreeing with Tina, remembering talking about Mrs. Martinez recently, though he couldn't recall the actual conversation. For some reason, William still struggled with his past. He looked back, searching for Sara, but she just watched him with a calm smile, as if everything was fine. "Mom…"
Sara walked over and stroked his cheek. “Aww, my little prince, come here, blow.” She tenderly held a handkerchief to the boy’s nose, and he instinctively blew into it, clearing his airways. “Bobby, honey, don’t worry. I’ll be right here when you get back, no matter what.”
William felt the tears stop rolling down his cheeks. "Promise?"
Sara gave the boy a sweet smile before nodding. “I promise, my little prince.” Tina opened the door and gently pulled him outside by her hand. The morning sun blinded him for a moment, and when his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw the school bus waiting outside. Other children, all in uniforms similar to his, were inside the bus, laughing and chatting as if nothing was wrong.
Both children started walking toward the bus. Williams felt much better now, starting to think about all the exciting things he could learn at school today. "Tina, I think I'd like to be a scientist when I grow up!"
Tina looked at him with a tender expression at his comment. "If you promise to study really hard, I'm sure one day you'll be the smartest scientist in the whole world. Let's make a deal: if you promise to behave at school today and mind your manners, I promise we'll play scientist when we get home. Does that sound good to you?"
William simply nodded as a smile spread across his face, forgetting why he had been upset in the first place.
With a small twist, William raised his free hand, waving it goodbye to his mother. As soon as he saw his mother's calm smile, he felt the world begin to fade around him. The voices of Tina and the other children became distant, as if they were speaking from the other side of a thick wall. The bright sun faded, and everything went dark.
William woke with a start, sitting up in bed with a stifled scream that echoed around the empty room. His breathing was labored, and his T-shirt was soaked with sweat. He looked around, disoriented, trying to separate the nightmare from reality. The room was silent, illuminated by the faint light of dawn that filtered through the curtains. There was no sign of Tina, Sara, or the school uniform he had seen in the dream.
"It was just a dream," he thought to himself, running a hand over his face. "Just a dream."
He lay back in bed, feeling his heart rate begin to return to normal. The dream had been so vivid, so real, that for a moment he'd believed he'd actually become a child. But that was the good part about waking up: he was home, safe, and, for better or worse, still not awake enough to remember the events of the previous night.
With a gentle roll, he sat on the edge of the bed, stretching to shake off the feeling of unease that still haunted him. But as he did, he noticed something odd. His pajama shirt was getting in the way of moving his arms. With a mixture of surprise and strangeness, William opened his eyes, unprepared for what he would see. His arms seemed shorter, his legs smaller. And his clothes... his clothes were too big for him.
William jumped out of bed, landing on the floor with his tiny feet. He looked down, and what he saw took his breath away. His pajama shirt, which had once fit perfectly, now hung like a tent, covering his body like a blanket. The sleeves reached his knees, and the collar was so big it slipped off his shoulder, while his pants had been abandoned along the way.
"What... what the hell...?" he muttered, touching the fabric with hands that now seemed tiny.
He approached the bedroom mirror, his heart pounding, and he lost his old pair of pants in the process. What he saw paralyzed him. The 35-year-old man was gone. In his place was a boy, no more than 10 years old, with disheveled hair and hazel eyes who stared back at him with an expression of confusion and genuine curiosity. His pajama shirt, which had hung like a dress, finally fell away, revealing his slender legs and plump, hairless body.
William stared at his reflection in the mirror, unable to look away. The boy staring back at him from the other side of the glass was him, but not the him he knew. His face was rounder, his cheeks fuller, and his eyes, though full of disbelief, had a youthful sparkle he couldn't remember having in years. He touched his face with small, chubby hands, feeling the softness of his skin, free of the wrinkles and expression lines he had accumulated as an adult.
"This... this is incredible," he murmured, slowly turning to face him in profile. His body was thin, almost frail, but he felt full of energy. He moved his arms, stretching and flexing them, surprised by the ease with which he did so. There was no ache, no stiffness, none of that feeling of heaviness that had accompanied him since he was over thirty. "The serum... it really worked."
He leaned closer to the mirror, examining every detail of his new appearance. His hair, once slightly gray, was now completely brown and soft. His teeth, which had previously had a few fillings, looked perfect, as if they'd never been touched by a dentist. Even his posture was different, more upright, more natural.
"This is amazing," he said softly, feeling curiosity begin to replace his initial fear. "No one could recognize me like this. Not the police, not my colleagues, not even my neighbors. I'm... I'm a child!"
He rolled over, staring at the floor, where his adult pajamas lay in a messy heap. The shirt, which had fit him perfectly just a few hours ago, now seemed ridiculously large. He bent down to pick it up, but the enormous size of the fabric was still difficult to adjust to compared to his short arms and small hands, making the task more difficult than he remembered. With a clumsy movement, he managed to fold it and lay it on the bed.
"I'll have to get some new clothes," He thought, looking at himself in the mirror again. "I can't walk around like this," he said, taking another look at his body, the feeling of surprise still not leaving him at all.
But despite the initial discomfort, a sense of relief began to wash over him. The serum had worked, and now it was impossible for anyone to link him to the William Kruerk who had stolen the prototype. No one would suspect a child. He could lie low, live a normal life with his family, at least until everything calmed down and he could sell the formula. Now that he knew of its effectiveness, he was sure he could make even more money than he'd initially thought.
"This is perfect," he murmured, smiling for the first time since waking up. "Who would have thought they managed to make something so effective even without me involved?"
William was absorbed in his reflection, exploring every detail of his new body, when suddenly the bedroom door opened without warning. Sara entered, an arm full of clothes and a shopping bag. Seeing William naked in front of the mirror, she stopped in her tracks. Startled, William turned quickly and tried to cover himself with his hands, though his small, slender body didn't offer much to hide.
"Sara! You could have knocked!" William exclaimed, his voice high-pitched and even surprising. His tone sounded more like that of a frightened child than an indignant adult.
Sara, however, didn't seem scared. Rather, her expression was one of concern mixed with a strange calm and tenderness at her husband's timid reaction, as if he'd already accepted the situation. "I'm sorry, honey," she said, placing the clothes on the bed. "But there's no need to be embarrassed. You don't have anything I didn't see when I was nannying."
William looked at her, confused. "What? What do you mean? How come you're not... surprised?"
Sara sighed, approaching him carefully, as if she were trying not to scare him further. "William, when I woke up this morning, you were like this. The serum worked and you turned into a boy. At first, I was as surprised as you were, but then I realized your pajamas were huge and you need some clothes before starting the day, so I thought it would be a good idea to try to get something I could dress you in first.
William gasped, not knowing what to say. "But... how? Why didn't you tell me anything?"
Sara smiled at him tenderly. "Because you were sleeping so soundly that I didn't want to wake you. Besides, I thought it would be better to let you sleep a little longer than worry about having a child your age walking around the house without clothes on," Sara laughed playfully, putting her worries aside for a moment to smile at the adorable expression on her husband's face. "Besides, from what I can see, it also gave you some time to get used to your new... situation."
William looked down, feeling shame and confusion mingling in his chest. "I wasn't doing anything wrong… it was just a startling change at first glance. I lost about 25 years of age overnight."
Sara moved a little closer, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I know, honey. But for now, I think it's best if you cover up before you catch a cold. I tried looking through Tina's clothes for something that would fit you, but I thought it would be too feminine for your taste. So I went to buy you some clothes that fit better."
William looked toward the bed, where Sara had left a small pile of children's clothes still with the price tag hanging off them. There were T-shirts, shorts, underwear, socks, and even a pair of small shoes. Everything was new, making William feel at first glance like it was a waste of money before comparing the new clothes to the pajamas still folded on the bed.
"Thank you, Sara," he murmured, feeling gratitude mix with discomfort. "But... could you give me some privacy?"
Sara smiled, her expression almost amused. "Sure, honey. But don't take too long. Breakfast will be ready very soon."
With that, Sara left the room, closing the door behind her. William was left alone, staring at the children's clothes on the bed. With a sigh, he began to dress, feeling his new reality slowly settle in.
William looked at the clothes Sara had left on the bed. They were distinctly childish, with brightly colored prints and designs that looked like they belonged in an elementary schooler's closet. While not what he would have chosen, the clothes were practical enough that he didn't refuse to wear them. With a resigned sigh, he began to dress, feeling each item draw him deeper into his new reality. The shorts fit him well, though the skinny legs peeking out reminded him how much he had changed. The T-shirt, with a superhero print, was a little big but comfortable. Finally, he put on his socks and shoes, which, though small, fit perfectly. Trying not to think about the adorable dinosaur underwear he had chosen, William could only be thankful that his shoes didn't have LED lights that glowed every time he took a step.
Once dressed, William grabbed his keys from the nightstand and then looked at himself in the mirror one last time. “It’s a perfect plan,” he said to himself, seeing what he could only describe as an adorable little boy who could easily pass as his daughter’s classmate.
With a final sigh, he opened his bedroom door and stepped out into the hallway. Just then, Tina appeared, dressed in her uniform and carrying her school bag. Seeing William, she stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide.
"Dad?" Tina asked, her voice a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "Is that you?"
William frowned, annoyed by the question. "Yes, Tina, it's me. Who else could it be?"
Tina leaned a little closer, looking him up and down with an expression that mixed disbelief and amusement. "It's just... I don't know, you seem so different. It's weird seeing you like this."
William crossed his arms, trying to maintain his composure. "Well, it's not like I have any choice. I'll have to hide for a while, and as you can see, the serum is working perfectly. So for now, we have…" William paused, hesitating for a moment. "We're the same age, I suppose."
Tina couldn't help but smile, and before William could react, she stood in front of him and began comparing their heights. "Wait, don't move," she said, placing a hand on his head and then bringing it up to hers. "Wow! Now I'm taller than you!"
William pulled away, irritated. "It's not that big a deal, Tina. It's only a few centimeters."
Tina laughed, clearly enjoying the situation. "A few centimeters taller than my own father. This is incredible. I never thought I'd see the day I'd be taller than you."
William felt even more uncomfortable, but he knew arguing with Tina wouldn't get anywhere. "Well, enjoy it while you can," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. "As soon as everything calms down, I'll go back to normal."
Tina continued to smile, but her expression changed slightly, as if something William had said displeased her. "Yes, of course, temporarily. But in the meantime, I think we'll have to make some adjustments at home. I don't think I'd feel comfortable taking orders from someone who's shorter than me."
William looked at her, annoyed by his daughter's immature and childish reaction to a fact as irrelevant as his current height. "Tina, don't start. Just because I look like a boy doesn't mean I am one. Despite my appearance, I am still your father, young lady, and I will not allow you to treat me any differently than an adult deserves from a child like you."
Tina raised an eyebrow, her expression almost defiant. "Well, you'll have to get used to it, Dad. Because, like I said, I'm in charge from now on."
Before William could respond, Sara appeared on the stairs holding a glass of orange juice. "Good morning, Tina. Ready to eat?"
Tina smiled naturally. "Yes, Mom. We were... arguing about who's taller now."
Sara looked at William curiously, noticing for the first time that her daughter was taller than her husband. "Well, your father has nothing to worry about. Girls usually develop first. I'm sure he'll grow up to be quite tall and handsome," Sara said jokingly, lightening the mood with her eloquent comment, which in turn lightened everyone's mood, except for her husband's.
William rolled his eyes at his wife's condescending response. He knew whether or not he liked this series, his reality would be around for a while, so he preferred not to start his day by making a big deal out of it. Tina turned around, giving her father a satisfied smile before heading toward the kitchen, leaving William with an annoyed expression on his face.
William took the glass of juice Sara offered him and then followed her into the kitchen, feeling strange as he noticed the monumental difference in distance and effort required to walk to the dining room compared to his previous body. His new shoes made a soft sound against the floor as he looked at his surroundings in surprise. From this perspective, his house looked completely different. Even his wife, who wasn't unusually tall for a woman of her age, seemed enormous next to him, constantly reminding William that this would be his new reality until the police stopped investigating his crime.
Upon reaching the kitchen, William sat down on one of the chairs, noticing how his feet didn't reach the floor. He adjusted his position, trying to find a comfortable position, but the chair didn't seem to have been designed for someone his size. Sara placed a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of him, refilling his glass with orange juice.
"Thank you, Sara," William murmured, trying to sound grateful despite his discomfort in the enormous dining room.
Sara smiled at her. "You're welcome, honey. Have breakfast. Now that you have that body, you'll definitely need a lot of energy."
Tina sat across from him, looking at him with that superior expression William was beginning to recognize on her face. "Yes, Bobby, eat well. You don't want to stay small forever, do you?"
William looked at her in annoyance, but decided not to respond. He knew anything he said would only give Tina more ammunition to continue teasing him. Instead, he focused on his breakfast, trying to ignore his daughter's constant stare.
While eating, Sara sat at the table with them, taking a sip of coffee. "William, after breakfast, I think we should talk about what we're going to do from now on. We can't afford to raise suspicions in case the police decide to come looking for you."
William nodded, feeling a little relieved to know Sara was thinking ahead. "For now, the best thing we can do is keep a low profile. No one knows I've become a child, and as long as we stay that way, we'll be safe."
"If the neighbors ask, we can say I'm a distant cousin of Tina's. Someone who's spending time with us. That would explain my presence without raising suspicion."
Sara nodded, considering the idea. "That might work. But, William, how long do we have to fake this? We can't keep this lie up forever. Sooner or later the neighbors might start to suspect something's wrong."
William was silent for a moment, unsure of what to say. The truth was, he had no idea how long he'd have to hide from the police; certainly, that excuse might work for at least a few weeks until the neighbors started asking annoying questions.
"Well, if it takes a long time, maybe we should enroll you in my school" Tina said intervening in the conversation "We could pretend that you are my twin brother until they stops looking for you, after all we are the same age now although you are shorter than me."
William looked at her, uncomfortable. "Tina, I'm not going to school. Besides, it would be very strange if they suddenly discovered you had a twin brother that no one knew about until now."
Tina shrugged, as if the idea were obvious. "But you look like a kid now. If any of the neighbors notice you're living here and not attending school, they might call child services."
William frowned at that small possibility he hadn't considered, annoyed in part that his daughter had considered it first. "It's not funny, Tina. This is serious."
Sara intervened, trying to calm the situation. "William, Tina has a point. If it goes on too long, we'll have to think about how to integrate 10-year-old William into our daily lives without raising suspicion. Although we don't have to decide everything now. For the moment, the important thing is that the police don't find you."
William nodded, though he still didn't know how to feel about the idea that social services might catch him and take him to some adoption center against his will. He knew Sara had a valid point, too, but the idea of having to pretend to be a child, and worse, go to school, was a variable he despised with all his small being. "Fine," he said finally. "But I'm not going to let you treat me like a child. I'm an adult and the leader of this family, and I want to continue to be treated like that."
Tina smiled before continuing with her own breakfast. William looked at her. He knew Tina was enjoying this situation more than she should, but his daughter's attitude wasn't his priority right now.
"Uh..." William mumbled uncomfortably, offering no further explanation. He bolted upright from his chair, nearly knocking over his glass of juice, and ran to the bathroom. His steps were quick and clumsy, and he felt the urgency growing with every passing second. "No, no, no," he thought, squeezing his legs together and trying to hold on.
He made it to the bathroom just in time, pushing open the door and sitting on the toilet almost immediately. He breathed deeply, feeling the tension in his body ease. But as the urge faded, a feeling of humiliation began to take hold of him.
"Did I…," he murmured, resting his head in his hands. "Did I just almost have an accident like a little kid?"
He looked down at his thin legs and small feet dangling surreally from the toilet bowl. "Is this a side effect of the serum?" he thought, frustrated. "Maybe... it's just that I'm still not used to my new appearance. After all, my body underwent a radical change overnight. It's possible that my brain is having a hard time adjusting to my physical changes."
William sat on the toilet for a moment, trying to process what had just happened. He knew he couldn't blame his new body entirely, but the idea that his adult mind couldn't handle a child's needs made him feel quite childish and immature.
"If that's the case, it should take my brain a few days to adjust to my new age, although with me it'll only be a matter of hours," he muttered to himself in an attempt to maintain his image of superiority, although the idea that this wasn't temporary made him uncomfortable. "I must be more vigilant. I can't allow this to happen again or for my family to find out about something so... undignified."
With a final sigh, William stood up, pulled up his pants, and washed his hands, glancing at himself in the bathroom mirror. The boy staring back at him from the other side of the glass seemed so alien that William wasn't sure if that reflection would ever truly feel natural. "This is temporary," he told himself, trying to convince himself that he was still completely in control of the situation. But deep down, he knew that adjusting to his new reality wouldn't be as easy as he wanted to believe.
William returned to the kitchen with slightly flushed cheeks, trying to act normal. Sara and Tina glanced at him briefly, but neither said anything, which gave him a small respite. He sat back down in his chair, adjusting his posture as he resumed his breakfast. Although he tried to focus on the food, his mind kept racing with what had just happened and what other unknown side effects he might face in the near future.
"Is everything okay, William?" Sara asked, concerned at her husband's escape and his noticeably distracted expression upon his return.
"Yes, yes, everything's fine," William replied quickly, avoiding her gaze. "Just... I forgot something urgent and had to take care of it."
Sara nodded, though she didn't seem entirely convinced. Tina, for her part, continued eating in silence.
As he ate, William couldn't help but think how annoying it was that the only bathroom in the house was on the second floor. "Why isn't there one on the ground floor? The first thing I'll buy when I'm rich will be a house with lots of bathrooms," he mentally muttered, feeling frustration rising in his chest. "As much as I hate to admit it, I'll have to be more careful in the future. I can't afford to be too far from a bathroom in case... in case my brain isn't yet ready to properly inform me of my basic needs."
The thought of having to run upstairs every time he felt the need to go made him even more nervous, given the obvious difficulty it would add to an already annoying problem. He couldn't afford to have an accident in front of his family; his pride wouldn't allow it. Now he knew that, at least for a while, his new body wouldn't give him the same amount of time as before, and that would force him to pay more attention to the signs, although he still didn't have enough information to know if he'd notice them in time.
Breakfast continued in silence, with William trying to finish his meal as quickly as possible while still struggling in his mind with the idea that his hypothesis would end up being just that, a hypothesis. When he finally finished, he put his fork down and leaned back in his chair, feeling the weight of the situation still weighing on his shoulders.
"Thanks for breakfast, Sara," he said, trying to sound grateful despite everything.
Sara smiled at her tenderly. "You're welcome, honey. Do you need anything else?"
William shook his head. "No, I think I'm fine. I just... need to check something."
With that, he got up from the table and headed toward his office, where he remembered leaving his phone the night before. He needed to try to contact Daniel. Perhaps his colleague could help him find a solution or at least give him some clue about the status of the investigation.
Upon reaching his office, he took his keys from his pocket and opened the door. Once inside, he approached his desk and found his phone, where he had left it before drinking the serum. He picked it up carefully, feeling how the device seemed larger in his small hands. Upon turning it on, he noticed he didn't has several notifications, neither messages from Daniel and other lab colleagues.
"First things first," he muttered to himself, opening the messaging app. He checked his boss's chat inbox, both surprised and grateful to see that his inbox wasn't filled with angry, accusatory messages. Instead, the last message to arrive was his boss wishing him a peaceful vacation.
William felt unable to distinguish whether it was a message that was usually copied and pasted to all workers taking a break or a genuine message from a colleague in the company wishing him a good vacation, whichever the answer was definitely much better than the other option.
After making sure he hadn't received any outstanding messages from any of his colleagues, William breathed a sigh of relief. At least that seemed to be in order for now. The next step was to contact Daniel. He swiped until he found the chat for the secure number Daniel had contacted him from yesterday and began typing: "Daniel, I need to talk to you. Do you have any updates on the investigation? Do you have any leads on the culprit yet?"
William sent the message before climbing into his chair, his feet dangling untouched as he waited for a quick reply. Minutes passed, however, and the phone remained silent. "Maybe he's busy," he thought, trying not to worry too much. But as time ticked by and Daniel didn't respond, anxiety began to creep in.
With a sigh, William set his phone aside and leaned back in his chair, pushing the table with one of his feet to swivel it so it faced the bedroom window so he could see the morning sky, feeling the weight of the situation weighing on him. He knew that, at least for the moment, Daniel was his only source of information, so he had no choice but to wait for a response from him—if Daniel ever contacted him again.
After a few minutes of staring up at the sky, William decided to go to the living room and watch the news. If the robbery was already public news, perhaps it would be a good idea to gather more information through it. Downstairs, he began to hear the usual Friday morning noises in his home. Tina walked past her father with her backpack on her shoulder and a pair of new sneakers Sara had bought her last week, getting ready to leave for school. William, without much interest, continued on his way to the living room.
"Ready for school, Tina?" Sara asked, adjusting her daughter's backpack while giving her a kiss on the forehead.
"Yes, Mom," Tina replied with a smile, though her eyes quickly strayed toward William, who was on his way over to the couch. Without wasting any time, she walked over and, with a quick inspection that let her know his mother wasn't listening, stopped beside William. "Well, I'm going. Stay out of trouble, Bobby," she said in a slightly mocking tone before heading out the door.
William watched her walk away, rolling his eyes at his daughter calling him by his diminutive name for the second time. He walked to the window, watching Tina's school bus drive down the street. His mind began to wander, thinking about Daniel. Why hadn't he responded to his texts? Had the police discovered William was the perpetrator? Or worse, had the police framed Daniel for his crime, and now he was in the hands of the police?
Although the idea of someone else being blamed for his crime was something that didn't keep William awake at night, knowing that this someone was someone he liked gave him a small feeling of discomfort, not enough to do anything about it, but maybe enough for William to think about sending a cake to his young scapegoat in prison on his birthday, well, if William was able to remember his birthday at some point.
"No, I can't do that," he muttered to himself, trying to convince himself that he was jumping to conclusions and shouldn't dismiss the card on his dashboard that had informed him of the research out of hand. Daniel was the only man he had within the company at the moment that he could ask about the research without raising suspicion; at the end of the day, his lab partner was the one who had decided to contact him to share private company information without William having requested it.
Definitely, curiosity to learn more details about what William could describe as "the biggest company gossip in years" in court was a good cover in case Daniel was caught and investigators somehow found their conversation through a secure channel. Even so, the doubt about Daniel's silence still lingered, fueling his intrusive thoughts.
He decided he needed a distraction. He walked over to the television and turned it on, hoping to glean some information from the morning news, or at least that it would help quiet his mind. However, what he found was a series of boring, repetitive news reports. They talked about the weather, a new dinosaur-themed playground opening soon in town, and a pie-making contest that was taking place this weekend. Nothing that would hold his attention.
"Really? This is the most interesting thing they have?" William muttered, flipping through the channels in an attempt to find something more interesting. Knowing that the research wasn't yet public knowledge was definitely a relief, but for some reason William ended up giving more importance to the feeling of boredom that had taken hold of him, a feeling that grew with each channel he visited, each one as monotonous as the last.
Finally, he put the remote aside and lay back on the couch, feeling the anxiety creeping back in. He couldn't go on like this. He needed something to take his mind off things, anything.
He stood up from the couch with determination, though his movements were a little clumsy due to his new body. He glanced toward the kitchen, where Sara was washing the breakfast dishes. Maybe he could help her, though the idea of housework wasn't something that excited him. Definitely, engaging in monotonous, repetitive tasks would provide enough stimulation to keep his thoughts under control.
His small feet barely made a sound as they walked across the wooden floor. He stopped at the entrance to the kitchen, where Sara was deep in thought, and took a deep breath before speaking.
"Do you need help with anything?" he asked, trying to hide the annoyance in his voice.
Sara glanced at him, responding to the small figure standing in the doorway automatically with a warm smile, just like she would with her daughter. "No, honey, it's okay. You can relax. Why don't you watch some more TV or play with something?"
William, irritated by Sara's suggestion that he could "play" or relax like a child, approached his wife with determination. It didn't matter that he now had the body of a 10-year-old; in his mind, he was still an adult, a respected scientist, and he wasn't going to allow himself to be treated like a little boy.
"Sara," he said firmly, though his high-pitched voice robbed him of some of its authority; the clear tone sounded strange in his own ears. It was as if every word out of his mouth collided with his self-perception as an adult and leader of the family. "I don't need to play games. I'm an adult, and I can help you with things around the house."
Sara, who was drying the dishes in the kitchen, stopped and looked at him with a mixture of surprise, tenderness, and perhaps a little amusement, noticing her husband's reaction to her little confusion. "William," she began, drying her hands with a rag, "you don't have to do that. You're... well, you know, in a complicated situation. I don't want you worrying about these things."
William crossed his arms, trying to look as serious as possible, although his height and childlike face made the scene almost comical. "I don't feel obligated. I decided I'm going to help you, so tell me what you need and let me take care of it."
Sara looked at him for a moment, as if gauging his resolve. Finally, she smiled and nodded. "Okay, William. If you insist, there are a few things you could help me with. But try not to overexert yourself, okay? I'm still not entirely convinced that your new condition is 100% safe," Sara said, trying not to betray her distrust of the chemical her husband had injected himself with such confidence last night.
William nodded, feeling a surge of satisfaction at the respect he believed his wife was showing his role as family leader. "Sure. Tell me what you need me to do."
Sara thought for a moment, looking around the kitchen as if looking for a task that wouldn't be too difficult for him. Finally, she pointed toward the dining room. "You could clear the table and then sweep the kitchen floor. That would be a great help."
William felt almost euphoric. Finally, something to do. Something that would allow him to escape his intrusive thoughts for a while. "No problem. Leave it to me."
With a determined stride, he headed toward the dining room table, where he began removing the tablecloths from the table, but he soon realized that his new body wasn't as agile as the one he was used to. His small hands and short arms made holding several pieces of linen at once a challenge. He inadvertently stepped on one end of the largest tablecloth, causing him to trip and fall to the floor, but fortunately, he wasn't hurt.
"Damn!" William muttered, getting up from the floor. He felt frustrated, but determined not to show such a pitiful side of himself, he got back to his feet, gathering up the tablecloths that had scattered on the floor during his fall.
"Is everything okay, William?" Sara asked from the living room, a tone of concern in her voice at the sound of the fall.
"Yes, yes, everything's fine," William replied quickly, trying to sound as calm as possible. "I just slipped. It's okay."
Sara peeked her head around the kitchen door and looked at him with a worried look. "Be careful, honey. I don't want you to get hurt," she finally said, before returning to what she was doing.
William felt frustration rising inside him. He didn't want to be treated like a clumsy child. He was an adult, and he could do this. More carefully this time, he managed to carry the tablecloths to the laundry room and place them in the dirty clothes basket. "How can something so simple be so difficult?"
Once all the tablecloths were in the basket, he returned to the table to wipe up the crumbs and food scraps. He took a damp cloth and began wiping it across the tabletop, though his movements were a little uncoordinated and the cloth seemed too big for his small hands. A few crumbs fell to the floor, but William decided to ignore them for the moment. "I'll sweep them up later," he thought.
Finally, the table was clean, at least to the naked eye. William stopped and looked at it with relief. "This isn't that hard," he told himself, even though he knew deep down he was being slower and less efficient than he would have been in his adult body.
Now, it was time to sweep the kitchen floor. William took the broom, which was now larger than he remembered, and began pushing the bristles across the floor. However, he wasn't very practiced at sweeping, and his movements were clumsy. The crumbs he'd dropped earlier scattered even further, and some even ended up under the refrigerator.
He continued sweeping, albeit with little success, until he finally decided he'd done a decent job. "Well, at least there are no more crumbs to be seen," he thought, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Once he was done, William stood in the middle of the kitchen, looking at his work. The table was clean, the floor was swept (or so he thought), and he felt satisfied that he had contributed. "Not bad for my first cleaning assistant," he thought, smiling to himself.
"Sara," he called to his wife, his voice confident and assured, "I'm done. The table is clean and the floor is swept."
Sara, who was tidying up the mess in the living room, came into the kitchen and looked at him with a smile. "That was quick! Thanks, William. I really appreciate your help."
William felt even more proud as he enjoyed how his ego could continue to grow despite his new appearance. "No problem. It's just housework, after all."
Sara nodded, though William didn't notice the tender look in her eyes as she looked at the kitchen floor. Crumbs were still scattered in some corners, and the rag William had used to wipe the table hadn't been rinsed properly and left water stains on the surface. But Sara didn't say anything.
It wouldn't have surprised anyone if, upon glancing into the kitchen, they discovered that William rarely involved himself in housework, even in his adult body. To Sara, her husband was a man of dazzling intellect, capable of deciphering the most complex mysteries of science, but when it came to the home, William would have been lucky if anyone had rated him "barely competent."
From the early days of their relationship, Sara had learned an undeniable truth: if it weren't for the instant noodles and the small Roomba robot his roommate had left wandering around their dorm room, William would very likely have succumbed to malnutrition, been buried in layers of dust, or been entombed under a mountain of chemistry textbooks, stacked so precariously that they seemed to defy the laws of physics.
After graduating from college and starting their life together, Sara had happily embraced the role of homemaker. Although she herself had earned a degree in writing, she had never felt a shred of regret about her decision to stay home. On the contrary, she found deep satisfaction in complementing William's weaknesses, allowing him to focus on his work while she wove balance into their lives. Furthermore, that choice had given her the priceless gift of watching her daughter grow, of being present for every laugh, every accomplishment, and every fleeting moment that would otherwise have been lost in the hustle and bustle of a more hectic life.
Even in her quiet moments, Sara found refuge in the pages of books that caught her attention, or in writing short novels that emerged as flashes of her imagination. These pastimes not only connected her to her innermost being, but also reminded her that, although her life seemed to revolve around caring for others, she also had a world of her own, filled with words and dreams that made her feel complete.
"Good work, William," Sara said, walking over to pat him on the shoulder. "Now you can rest a little if you want. I'll take care of the rest."
William nodded, feeling satisfied. "Fine. But if you need more help, just let me know."
Sara smiled. "Sure, honey. Thanks again."
As William walked away from the kitchen, his spirits renewed, Sara stared at the mess he'd left behind. With a sigh and an amused expression on her face, she picked up the broom and began sweeping again, this time more carefully.
"Well, at least he tried," Sara murmured to herself, smiling. She knew William was doing his best, and in a way, she was relieved to see that her husband was still the same person despite all the changes his body had undergone because of the serum. Although it did mean he was still terrible at housework. She didn't want to hurt her husband's feelings, so she decided not to tell him she'd have to redo everything.
As she cleaned, Sara couldn't help but feel a mixture of concern and affection. Seeing William, such a proud and confident man, reduced to a little boy broke her heart. But she also knew that, deep down, William needed some distraction in this unusual situation, even if it meant she would have to work a little harder in secret.
Once she finished cleaning, Sara approached William, who was sitting on the couch, distractedly looking at his phone with a worried expression. "Thanks again for your help, William," she said with a genuine smile. "I really appreciate it."
Without taking his eyes off his phone screen, William nodded distractedly. "No problem, Sara."
Sara nodded, though in her mind she was already planning how she would handle housework in the future. She knew this was just the beginning of the new family dynamic they would have to navigate from now on, and she was determined to make it work, no matter how much effort it took.
