The Elevator Seventy-Third Floor (Patreon)

Cardonali the magical imp was doing what he always did, he caused trouble to others for his own amusement. Cardonali had the ability to put any thought into a person's mind and manipulate them as he wanted to. He stood unobserved or at least unacknowledged in the back of an elevator waiting to see who would get in.

"Look at you? My big, strong man.  Not very big anymore are you?  Not strong...not even a man anymore.

You promised you would take care of me.  Now it looks like I'll be taking care of you.

But it's been that way for a while now.  Ever since you quit your job and became self-employed.  Ever since then I've been supporting us.

You said you needed help starting out.  I did help you and I will continue to, but in a different way now.  I'll help you learn how to walk better.  You're not so steady on your feet anymore.  Are you?  I'll help you to talk.  You can only say a few words, but you'll improve with my help.  And think in about a year, I'll teach you how to potty.  Won't that be great?

But in the meantime, I'll take care of you like I always have.  I'll buy your clothes and make sure you get dressed.  I'll make your meals and see that you eat them.  I'll make sure you're never alone.  Someone will always be watching out for you.

You said I was babying you, I guess your right.  But what can I do, you've always been my baby.  From now on it'll just be official.

The elevator door opened, the woman scooped up her former husband into her arms and carried him out into the world.  Now the world saw him just as she saw him.

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Toddler Photo by radwan skeiky on Unsplash