Codependency.

The alarm clock woke Vanessa up. She stood up and turned it off. Then, she noticed: she either didn’t sleep enough or something changed once again, because she felt herself tired, as if her body became heavier.

Vanessa looked down on her body. Her feet appeared to be more withered now compared to yesterday, potbelly became more protruded and hanged low, through the cleavage of her nightshirt she saw that her chest grew about a cup in bra size, but the added mass lacked in quality: those fleshy lumps sagged so much under their own weight, that they almost touched the bulge of her stomach. The knickers Vanessa wore yesterday, that sat on her rump quite comfortably, now gave her wedgie, so much her ass fattened overnight!

The room itself, though, hasn’t changed a bit.

Vanessa came to the nearest mirror and reflection shown her the harsh truth: her face became fuller and plumper, though the cheekbones sunked in a bit, it also had more showing crowsfeet and laugh lines and more wrinkles in total, her hair was even duller with graying hair being more noticeable in different places.

Vanessa noticed another new detail about her body: it felt like if she “compressed” somewhat, her height became just a tad bit shorter, but it contrasted with how it was just yesterday.

The window in her room was opened and a cool morning air flowed inside, but Vanessa was feeling herself quite hot and sweaty.

She opened the door and walked to the corridor, where she saw a boy in a baggy clothes. He looked to be about 7 years old with chubby cheeks and childish body with its absence of muscles and some babyfat gathered in the tummy area. His innocent face resembled Sam very much, no it was, indeed, him!

-          Sam, you’ve got younger again! – exclaimed Vanessa, noticing that her voice became deeper and raspier.

-          Vanessa?! What happened?! You’re older again! – Sam said in his high-pitched and “girlish” voice.

They sat on the couch downstairs to establish, that Vanessa became 10 years older and Sam 5 years younger again, but reality didn’t change, so the world remembers them as 42 years old mother and 12 years old son, they shouldn’t go anywhere, they should have gone and drive straight ahead to the “witch”. After this, they had breakfast and Vanessa found some clothes for Sam in the attic and for herself – it was the largest things she now had in her wardrobe.

Vanessa had to call her boss, to say she’s ill, so she cannot arrive at work, he quickly believed, because her voice sounded “strange”.

Meanwhile, Sam texted Melissa (he was afraid she’ll notice that he sounds “younger”) and asked her to warn everyone that he’s sick. He was sure, that since Vanessa is so concerned about it all, she won’t tumble to call the principal about his “illness”.

They went outside, climbed in the car and Vanessa started to drive them to the “witch”. The place they headed to was somewhere out of town, it will take a couple of hours to reach the destination point as navigator said.

As they rode, Vanessa noticed:

-          You know, yesterday, when you went to bed, I checked what that “witch” or how else she calls herself, I don’t care, wrote about herself: she claims she’s a hereditary mage in more than 8 generations and also an Amerindian roots, from which she inherited her abilities too. As for me, it still sounds suspicious enough, to claim she’s a charlatan.

-          Hey, watch the road! – exclaimed Sam.

-          What? – Vanessa asked in a stressed voice.

-          You just ignored another sign!

-          I did?! I just haven’t had enough time to see it, I mean I saw it, but from the distance it looked too blurry!

-          Oh god, I think we should stop somewhere, so we could buy some glasses for you!

-          What?! I have 20/20 eyesight!

-          Vanessa, no, you HAD such eyesight, but you had trouble reading the sign, that you should be able to see clearly. Listen, what if cop stops us?! Your license claims you being 10 years younger, what if he notices it?!

-          Okay, I agree, I’ll drive us to the nearest mall, where we could buy glasses for me.

They arrived at the nearest mall. It was almost empty, because it was a workday morning. Vanessa found ophthalmology shop near the pharmacy, she left Sam outside, got her eyesight checked quickly by ophthalmologist and bought a pair of cheap glasses of “cat eye” type.

Sam giggled, when he saw Vanessa with the new accessory.

-          Didn’t think you’d ever wear those with that sense of style of yours!

-          Sam, stop it! I just had to buy glasses quick. By the way, we’re at the mall, so I think we can use the chance to buy some clothes for us.

-          But we already have it… - said Sam quizzically.

-          Yes, but we don’t know we’ll have to stay like this… I think it’s better to buy some more.

-          Okay.

This morning, both of them put on clothes they looked at first and which seemed to be at least somewhat fitting for them. Vanessa wore largest T-shirt and largest “mom jeans” she found in her wardrobe, despite this she struggled to put them on, because the waistline was smaller than she needed for her new body, so she had to literally squeeze into them. This pair of pants were designed to be comfortable and roomy, but they were very snug on Vanessa’s thighs and butt now. Vanessa also hadn’t a bra underneath her tee, because despite how hard she tried to find any fitting bra, she couldn’t, so she needed something bigger and more supportive for her breasts, which became bigger and with the way her titties lost the battle with gravity, Vanessa understood that any of her lace underwear couldn’t provide the needed support. Vanessa felt, that it was uncomfortable and her back may soon start to ache.

Overall she looked comical in her current attire.

Vanessa glanced at Sam. She couldn’t hide how she was adoring his new look. “Just look at those cheeks!” – she thought.

Of course, his mother told her what a cute kid he used to be. Also her new memories, from reality where Sam is her only and favorite baby-sonny, provided her the images of him in his younger years, so a part of her almost screamed from exaltation at the sight of every mother’s dream and secret hidden wish become true – her child returned to more innocent and dependent state.

Furthermore, this piece of Vanessa’s mind, bended by the change in reality, would prefer Sam to be even smaller, not a second-grader but a kindergartner or a preschooler.

Sam was dressed in a clothes that didn’t fit his smaller body, so they looked baggy and almost comically large on him.

Vanessa’s perception of Sam changed, she no longer could see him as boyfriend or an adult man, because he definitely didn’t look the part, so her vision of Sam as her son only gained stronger control of her emotions. Vanessa realized, that she needs to hide the fact, that she would enjoy buying new clothes for Sam and that if she wants to do it, she should find a good, rational reason for it.

-          Sam, I think, we need to buy some clothes, while we are still in the mall. Both of us. – she said

-          No need for it, anyway, you got your glasses – it was the reason we came here, we just need to go back to the car and drive to the “witch” so we could figure all this out. – Sam answered.

-          Listen, before you’ve said, that you’re worried we may be stopped by the cops if they notice anything suspicious about us. Right now at the mall, or in the parking lot we may attract someone’s attention and they call police or cops themselves may see us. We’re dressed inappropriate, our clothes don’t fit the both of us, don’t you think it’s suspicious?

-          Okay, I agree. – Sam admitted.

They went through a pair of shops. Vanessa finally bought a pair of pants, a new T-shirt and a bra for herself. At least, now her jeans weren’t hugging her muffin top so tight and push it outward and she didn’t have to risk showing her belly to everyone if she made any unwary movement.

When she was shopping for clothes for Sam, he looked mostly uninterested and apathetic, he only set the rules for Vanessa in terms of clothes choice: not too childish and no embarrassing or cartoonish prints. So, he hadn’t noticed the glow in Vanessa’s eyes when she decided what Sam has to wear like “a good boy, he has to be”. They used the bathroom stalls for a quick change of clothes, when they have bought everything they need.

Visit to the mall took more time than Sam expected, after the stop at the clothing shop, Vanessa went to the hairdresser to die her hair, she wanted to hid the grey color in them. After regaining her chestnut color, she went to the pharmacy, because she remembered the hot flashes she experienced this morning, she kept feeling it through the day, so she bought some hormone patches for herself. Then she returned back to the car with Sam.

They rode, reached the outskirts, then out of the city. Vanessa kept on riding until the navigator told, that they arrived at the destination point.

It was a place in a small town. Vanessa checked the address once again and realized, that the “witch” might be in a small cape cod type house painted in green. The yard seemed a bit unkempt.

-          Sam, we’re at the place, come on. – Vanessa said.

Sam fell asleep during the ride, so when he heard Vanessa’s voice he jumped on his place. Then he unbuckled himself and, blinking his sleepy eyes, climbed out of the passenger seat, mumbling something.

Vanessa came to the door and rang the bell.

She waited for a minute, until a young adult female opened the door and appeared right in front of her.

-          So… you texted me yesterday, right? – she asked.

-          Yes…  - Vanessa answered.

-           Ok, come in. – She looked at Sam and continued: - This boy… He’s coming too?

-          Yes… - mumbled Vanessa, then she became much more confident and said: - Wait, you’re a witch, why haven’t you predicted that I’m not coming here alone?

-          Predicted? – the witch looked at her quizzically. She seemed to be irritated at the question, but she continued: - Listen, I understand, you’re unsure and my looks might not quite meet your expectations, but I’ll show you what I can do right now, okay?

-          Okay.

Sam and Vanessa walked inside. It seemed to be just a typical house, but then they walked after the girl upstairs and came to the small room, which has the light turned off, with some cheap colorful illumination, that lightened it up a bit. Even like this, Vanessa saw empty chips packages and energy drink cans.

Girl quickly got the chair for Sam and put it near the table in the middle of the room, there already was another one, so Vanessa took a seat. She was tired after the ride.

Vanessa’s lack of confidence in the “witch” was understandable. The girl looked pretty “average”, except for her hair dyed in a raven black color, her dark attire which included black t-shirt with unreadable writing on it and black miniskirt, she also wore high combat boots.

-          My name’s Christina if it does matter to you. Let’s start, please, don’t move and don’t say anything.

-          Sorry, I have a question: you wrote about yourself, that you’re a hereditary mage, is it true or it’s kind of commercial trick? – asked Sam.

-          Yes, I learned about it when I did project in school, I searched information about my ancestors, took genetic tests and learned that my granny’s grandma had a reputation of “sorceress” back in the days, when my family was still in Europe and so her mother did. I became obsessed with different magic stuff since then and became who I am now. I’m really glad, I found that I have the right ancestry for practicing magic, even though my mom really mad about this, she thinks I do nothing useful, while she’s at work.

-          So, an Amerindian roots is truth too? – asked Vanessa.

-          Yes, it is. I repeat: don’t move and don’t say anything.

Christina’s eyes started to glow strangely and a crystal ball on the table too. The glow was strange, even mysterious, it changed from purple to dark shade of green and back, glowed brighter, enough to illuminate all the room, then became duller. It could be explained by the use of some devices, but the light came right out of her eyes and unreadable, unrecognizable symbols and runes appeared on her body, they first started to show upon her neck, then started to spread through her torso, crawling under her tee, reaching her arms, hands, her thighs and legs. Sam and Vanessa were able to see it, because the encrypting were glowing too, as if they were made with phosphorous paint, so the light streamed even underneath Christina’s short skirt (maybe even underneath her knickers, but they weren’t sure).

Suddenly, it stopped. Christina looked at the pair and said:

-          Jeez, both of you are about my age! It seems the reality, I can’t find the right word… wait… Yes! Bends around you, as it always was like this, right?!

-          How… is it possible… - mumbled Sam.

-          But this morning I became older and Sam younger once again and nothing about reality changed! – exclaimed Vanessa.

-          Hmmm…. Wait, you’re… no you were… Nevermind! You’re a couple right? – asked Christina.

-          Yes… - answered Vanessa.

-          The spell… It’s very unusual! It created some kind of… codependency between the two of you, so for any age this young man loses you gain two. But the spellcaster seems to be unpracticed, maybe similar level with me, but he uses some powerful grimoire. – Christina said as she rubbed her chin and looked on the floor.

-          Can you say: who is it? – asked Vanessa.

-          No… But he’s somewhere very close to you! It seems, the only way you could reverse it is by asking the spellcaster to remove it.

Their small conversation helped to make things a bit clearer, but neither Sam or Vanessa knew if someone around them had any kind of magical grimoire.

They arrived home in the late evening, because they got in a traffic jam twice. They had dinner and went to bed soon after it, due to the fact that both became quite tired.

When Vanessa came to Sam’s room to wish him goodnite, she said:

-          You know, Sam, you’re usually the one between us, who’s more likely to take the responsibility. But this spell, it reminded me, that you can’t be around all the time and I have to learn to speak for myself and be able to make the right decisions.

-          I’m glad you found something useful in this strange situation – answered the sleepy Sam.

Later, about midnight, Sam woke up, because his hard thoughts didn’t help to have a good rest at all. But, when he opened his eyes, he saw some strange light, that was flowing outside of the house through the window.

The light itself looked kind of familiar. It was similar to the glowing he saw, during his visit to Christina. At least, the color was the same,

Sam stood up and came to the window to look outside, the light there was even brighter, it was almost blinding him. The glowing came from the neighbor’s house, that stood in from of theirs on the other side of the road.