Bojunyixiao’s Weibo night 2023/2024 🎉🎉
can you believe we’re here again. no matter how problematic sina weibo is as a platform, their awards night is a day cpfs look forward to because our boys will be attending. even if we know they won’t interact or anything, the fact that they get to attend the same event is enough for us.
i will just include the recap for the past years on here, the 2019/2020 being very short cause i feel like that has been widely speculated and talked about already. then 2021 and 2022. this post will discuss the event and stuff that happened + some commentary + cpn clownery. enjoy!!!!!
I. CPFs team building and showing strength
It would not be fair to exclude this feat that cpfs achieved with the free tickets for Weibo night. Even if we had no idea if both of them will attend, cpfs tried to grab tickets just in case it happens so we will be prepared. In the first round, we surprised all other fan groups with how we dominated and it set the rhythm for the next rounds. Trust cpfs to set the trend and make other fandoms “wake up”. lol. They can say what they want about cpfs but we all know that part of the hate is because they do not understand why we’re still here. They don’t get why we are this strong and a happy group.
My favorite thing that happened was when the top profile photos spelled out BJYXSZD + heart with a mole. It doesn’t stop there tho, the next week/round, we still dominated so Sina Weibo tried to save face by doing some tactics to suppress us. Nevertheless, every week, more of us got tickets because of the help of our little turtle fandom.
There were also efforts to get top comments on Weibo Night posts but I won’t get into that anymore cause we usually do that. But the thought of showing strength “online” as what the boys advertised is sweet.
Years later, we are still as strong as ever and shall remain that way. and that’s all thanks to each and every turtle out there who chooses positivity & makes sure our community remains a safe space.
II. The anticipation and announcements
It’s safe to say that this year, XZ is a sure attendee cause he always tops the voting at this event. However, some were still not sure cause he did not attend other public events last year like 10c starlight or NYE events cause he is busy with filming his projects. On 1/10 evening tho, a rather unsavory rumor made it on HS which was a signal that weibo night was getting desperate and wanted some noise for their event. lol. maybe there are other parties involved, but the intent is the same. I will also just mention the issue that happened on 1/9 with Chunzhen and them withdrawing lottery tickets supposedly won by certain fans. But the next day, Weibo lottery decided to honor the win and gave the tickets. I have no reaction to this tbh, and that’s why i didn’t talk about this separately and at length on my blog. It’s the brand / fandom that i have nothing to do with’s issue. As a turtle, we all know how CZ is with certain things so i’m not surprised that this happened. LOL.
I honestly feel for XZ, he is out there working hard and minding his own business but people and circumstances keep dragging him into irrelevant incidents.
As for WYB, everyone thought he wasn’t gonna attend. This is the same energy as last year. People are busier with grabbing tickets for his SDC6 finals and completely ignored weibo night ( as they should ). There was still some hope tho, cause if you think about it, he attended a lot of platform events. Tencent, IQIYI, GQ MOTY and 2 NYE shows. So why not Weibo Night? I have said it before, but one thing that I loved about WYB attending multiple events by the end of last year was it’s a show of his position and professionalism in the industry. He can go anywhere and be welcomed — he has good relations with almost everyone and that is important in their industry.
I know he is not fond of public events, but i’d like to think he says yes because of his professional relationship with these platforms/companies. I was never a fan of when people flex that their fave “will not go to xx because they did something to him etc.” LOL. That’s not how any industry works. You can’t burn bridges and I’m happy that WYB doesn’t do that. It’s also a testament of how much of a good boy he is 🤍
Anyway, back to the timeline. On 1/10, Weibo announced some winners and the boys are on there. I guess One & Only winning was a clue that WYB will go. Then a so/o account gave a tip that WYB will announce his attendance to an event on 1/11 @ 13:00. So by the evening of 1/10, it was mostly confirmed that WYB will be going.
The next day, 1/11, Weibo Night account started posting emoji clues for the remaining celebrities to be added in their guest lineup. A few hours later, both the boys announced their attendance. What’s different this time tho is aside from the usual copy-paste caption, there is a reminder for everyone to not do any fan activities at the venue. more details was also added in the comment. I guess they don’t want a repeat of what happened last year with the crowds. It caused a delay & cancellation of the red carpet. Both XZS and YBO reposted with more guidelines to follow like no gatherings and light signs etc.
i know weibo dictated the posting time but the 13 kadian is sending me! yizhan! 🫶🏼
The BJYX ST mods also sent out a message to not do any offline support.
There are more fandom drama after the announcement with other groups but i won’t add that here anymore cause it will only rot our brain. && it’s so much better to focus on the boys!
III. Pre show discussion
On the eve of Weibo Night, GG attended an awards show and it gave us some sweet candy. The most interesting to me is the choice of Alexander McQueen and the first two celebrities tagged by the brand on their weibo in 2024. This is giving me Dsquared vibes. Also how it almost mirrors the wedding-ish vibes they had last Weibo night. I know we as cpfs are somehow programmed to seeing connections but honestly, they don’t make it hard.
Late at night too, Weibo started showing opening screens of attendees and of course they didn’t put them in the same group/frame. This is understandable cause they wouldn’t put the top male celebrities together and knowing how both their fandoms hate each other. Also, how the grouping went, WYB’s was more of the “movie group”. That won’t stop me from being a bit better tho. lol. Cause if they can’t put them in the same frame like that, there is just no way they will be on the same stage or even sat remotely close to each other.
A photo from inside the venue also showed the projected commercial on stage is WYB & Chunzhen 😂😂😂😂😂
I can just imagine XZ smiling when he sees.
There were also talks of the both of them being on the second row. XZ was already seated way before the ceremony started, and their names are so close but cpfs were anticipating since WYB was not inside yet. We were all waiting to see if it will happen. WYB is supposedly next to YZ but then we see that Jackson sat there. We joked that he should stay there so WYB’s place will be taken and he will have no choice but to sit next to XZ 😂😂😂
IV. Red Carpet shenanigans
🟢 WYB’s red carpet walk
I honestly didn’t get the whole look tho when some people pointed out that it’s the glam version of what he wears when he plays golf — i kinda got it. For his past platform events like GQ, IQIYI & 10C, his red carpet were really casual. I guess that’s what he wants — to be comfortable walking the carpet. There were also some praising him for going against the norm. Well, I have to say tho that his face really stood out. Minimal to no make up look. He was so handsome! 🫶🏼
🔴 XZ’s red carpet walk
I love his outfit! It’s black but still got that something special to make him stand out. &&& I honestly love the hair! I thought I would cry because of how short it is now but it suits him. I mean, he looks gorgeous in anything but you know what I mean ☺️
CPN: XZ signed his name beside/very close to WYB. granted, there are so many signatures there but i’m wondering if he recognized his husband’s signature. lol. In this simple way, they can be next to each other!
V. Weibo night links
XIAO ZHAN
Photoshoot for red carpet look
Photoshoot for second outfit
Xiao Zhan winning Outstanding Actor of the Year
WANG YIBO
Photoshoot for red carpet look // Photoshoot BTS video
Yibo winning popular filmmaker of the year
Yibo-Official post for Weibo Night
* This is incomplete cause we still don’t have ( at the moment of posting ), the BTS for XZS photoshoot + their photos while receiving the awards.
VI. THE SUGAR RUSH 🍭🍬
• WYB’s personal post of him and the caption. The freakin caption. Look, i know that WYB’s brand is all about being the “cool guy” so maybe that’s why he said in the caption that he likes the HS about him. But the thing is, it’s totally out of character. How many events did he attend with him going so high up the HS with much more interesting tags but he chose this? Also, he really needed to do so that he used his own account??? For a couple of years now, yibo-official is the one that posts for him when he is at an event. So the speculation is this one is personal and amused him so much, seeing that their HS for the same event they are both at matched! Also, when WYB posted that, CPFs flooded the top comments! Understandably so. 💛
• The signed photos which i’m not sure about. I actually saw someone post that earlier and people were clowning about how it can’t be real.
But then, an account posted a giveaway with all the other attendees and it included the couple photo. I’m putting this down as clownery, cause on their end there will always be deniability. The autographed photo was also deleted by the account a bit later, which is actually expected cause it will bring trouble. lol.
• XZS and YBO matching again! Look at how they arranged the photos. How a few of the snaps are not in theme with the rest. Nothing new here!
• The same song and dance of them missing to see each other. As soon as XZ was gone, WYB came in to sit down. Good thing he had Jackson to talk too a bit and he was gone again after 10 mins! Hopefully they could spend time together backstage away from the cameras. 📷
People are pointing out that XZ was checking his phone lol. probably checking if WYB is giving him a signal to leave so they can do their usual operation. These two! Honestly!
• Not really CPN, but a similarity. In the red carpet, both of them didn’t do the “activities” that others were supposed to. If you watched the red carpet, there is a point where they have to choose something from a wall with numbers. there is also a choice to take a photo from one of the “themes��� by they both bypassed it. I was rolling my eyes cause a WYB anti was trying to make a big deal out of it, but then XZ did the exact same thing. Some people just don’t understand how celebrities like them operate. Not to say that they are above everyone else, it’s just that they do things differently.
• ZSWW fake rumor account posted at 19:21. At this time the red carpet was already finished. It doesn’t say who is saying which line. I’m interpreting this incident to be something that happened today backstage 🤡🤡🤡
"A kiss, a kiss...
"Oh, okay, let's talk about it later when we get back.”
"There will be a surprise when I go back 😏”
"What?"
“You'll know when you go back”
Then they posted again, at 21:05 with a much longer one but it doesn’t seem be pertaining to today’s events.
• There is a photo/video of XZ talking to Huang Bo! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! and now we’re thinking about how they haven’t cooperated with each other but seem familiar. Yes, we don’t know all their relationship and friends off camera but my mind immediately went to the SDC 3 clowning. That’s most likely when they became close. lol.
• Heaven’s choice cause WYB was sat at #23 ( Love Zhan )
• This time, both of them left the venue after they received their awards. XZ didn’t stay like he did the previous years. Good for them! It’s better to spend time together 🤍 I know that most of us expected what happened today, them not being in the same place at the same time. Tho some may see that in a negative way, I actually see this as an example of trying to keep their private life separate from the public. Tho a big part of their lives are on camera and that’s how they met. I think what they are doing is really to reserve the time they have & are seen together in private. Maybe some can’t see it that way and will be frustrated but at the end of the day, we have to respect their choice.
• XZ’s 2nd outfit is by Balmain! He tends to wear this at events that they both attend 🥹🥹🥹
• It’s now XZ’s turn to see the cpf headband light signs! Lol. I hope he saw it. We all know that he is near sighted sooooo….
====
If there are post event CPNs, i will do a separate discussion. See you in the next Weibo Night! ✌🏼
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Decisions & Desire Part I
Notes: Next part is much happier, I promise. They are both just really stubborn. There are two songs associated with this installment: Le cygne by Camille Saint-Saëns and My Body is a Cage by Arcade Fire.
Context: Anya is Viktor's childhood friend from Zaun. She is a wealthy donor to the Academy, and is also Viktor's patron; she gained her fortune through winning the lottery. She is a mage, a theoretical physicist, and is a different humanoid species -- she lives for centuries, and only has one mate for her lifespan. Viktor's love and attraction for her grows, but he does not want to become her mate, so that she will not spend the rest of her lifespan alone.
rating & potential warnings: Mature ; infertility ; brief aphobia ; sexual dysfunction.
AO3 link
Tag List: @uniquedeerwitch ; @funcoolchickie (please let me know if you would like to be tagged for future updates!)
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Viktor spent the day poring over the notes Anya gave him: translations of ancient runes, spell castings, and various theoretical equations in the sciences of physics. There were many aspects which he could decipher, but there were many to which he was not privy; Anya was the mage, capable of great magicks he could not fathom. Many of her mentions and notations were lost on his limited knowledge, save for those he could reference in what few ancient texts and scholarly scripts had not been abandoned behind lock and key. Thus, he decided to visit her at her mansion, hoping to divine her help. He knew she had no responsibilities to attend to that day – whether at the Academy, or at her temple – and he had been given free invitation to her home whenever he pleased.
The Sun sweltered in the middle of the sky, its rays clung to the final days of Summer before the Equinox. Viktor nearly felt faint as he exited the carriage and found shelter in the shade of her porch lattice. He pressed on the intercom and announced himself to her; he was quickly let inside, where the chill of her marble home brought relief to the heat sickness that threatened him. He could not hear her bustling about the kitchen, nor did he hear her pattering feet throughout the floors of the mansion; the door to her bedroom was open, though there were no shadows that moved within it. But he was guided to the glass door of a patio with the sound of splashing water; outside, he found the disturbed waters of a long, rectangular pool, and a fast swimming shape moved beneath them.
Anya’s face appeared at the corner closest to him. “Will you join me?” she laughed as she slicked back her hair.
He smirked and shook his head. “I prefer to stay on land,” he said. “I hope I have come at a good time. I do not want to interrupt your day off with work.”
“No – please. I want to hear everything you have to say.” She motioned to a shaded cabana beside the pool, furnished with lounge chairs and small tables, and a pitcher full of fresh water. “But if it is alright with you, I will stay here.”
“By all means,” he agreed, and retreated into the cover of the canopy. Her kind were acclimated to warmer weather, and he rarely saw her so happy than when the Sun was bright and torrid; he would hate to pry her of joy. “I had a question about one of your notes, ‘transmutation’ –” he began, “you have labelled it in runes, however I cannot make sense of it. The other proposed actions – these, spells, written in runes – seem to have a clearly defined variable in what is required for them. However, transmutation does not.”
Anya was flat on her back as she enjoyed the heat of the Sun; she spun underneath the water and swam closer towards him. She clung to the wall of the pool, and rested her folded arms on its edge. “Magic requires balance,” she said. “All actions must have an equal and opposite reaction – magic is simply a science. I am sure you have heard: ‘all magic has a price’, an expression of that same principle – but rarely is magic ever so dramatic,” she chuckled.
“So, the equation is incomplete,” he presumed and reread her combination of runes in his notebook – now interpreting them as algebraic expressions, rather than nebulous concepts he was forbidden to learn.
“Well, I cannot decipher what it wants in return,” she said. “The building blocks of a transmutation ritual are there, plainly, in the runes – but as for what the crystal will give or take to balance out the action, I have only guesses.” She dipped her head back in the water to wet her quickly drying hair and brushed the droplets from her face. “It is an ancient magic – one that is not of my culture.”
Anya disappeared beneath the surface of the pool again, and Viktor sat, engrossed, in the runework she laid out on the page; with his newfound understanding of how spellwork functioned, he reread each passage to determine its proposed outcome.
The Sun waned from the center of the firmament, where it lingered towards the Western horizon and a golden hue cast itself over the forest edge in the near distance; the bouncing waters in the pool glimmered with the shine of quicksilver; long shadows careened over the perimeter of the mansion and the topiaries around the patio; and Anya sighed with satisfaction from her prolonged leisure. Viktor still sat with the notebook in his hand, roughly attempting to piece together runework of his own; his feet were elevated on an ottoman, and the pitcher of water was now half empty beside him. They had hardly spoken, besides an occasional observation, or a quick question, but they enjoyed their mutual company in gladdened silence.
He heard Anya begin to exit the pool, as the water lapped at the shore’s steps, and he moved to stand in the hopes that he could show her the rune equations he had crudely written. But as he looked up from his notebook, the image of Anya, and the beauty of her figure caressed in golden light, struck him viscerally.
She wore the half sheer fabric of her people, it clung to her every curve with wetness and decadence. She stepped out of the pool with grace and assurance, and as she stood to greet the dying light of day, she rolled her neck towards its rays; they kissed the figure of her waist and hips with bright flashes of lustre. The length of her dark hair fell over her back, and she wound her arms around it to drain every drop from its locks; they gathered in a puddle at her feet, trailing in streams back into the pool behind her. He could hear her hum as she did so, each strand of hair a singular, sensitive nerve, she combed her fingers through small tangles with quiet soughs.
Viktor quickly looked away, uncertain what to do with himself. A heat gathered in his thighs, and he held his breath. He was overcome with an emotion he had never experienced, but in dreams. Rarely had he gazed on Anya to acknowledge her beauty, but never had he felt for her the fervor that quickened his blood with desire.
"Are you hungry?” she asked.
“What?”
“Would you like to join me for dinner?” she asked again. It was not unusual for Viktor to be distracted by his thoughts, but the stoicism that hardened his face was deeper than was his wont, and he refused to look at her.
“No. Thank you,” he said, and chanced to glance at her.
“Very well,” Anya agreed, suspicious, but she allowed her friend his oddities. “If you change your mind, you always have a place here.”
She continued to brush her hands through her hair, and when she returned its long locks to rest along her back, she shook her mane of any other droplets. Her soft breasts moved with her as her body swayed and shuddered, and she took a refreshed breath as the tail end of a breeze passed through the foliage around them.
Viktor’s breath remained captive in his throat, and his hands gnawed at the notebook clasped between them; he was frozen there, in her light, and he had every instinct to both flee and fall at her feet. But the passion of his instincts was marred by the impotence that robbed him of the chance to ever show her his devoted desire with the sacrament of his body. Lascivious thoughts wound themselves throughout his mind, and at their impulse, he was tempted to profess his ardor regardless of the consequences.
But Viktor chided himself for his prurience, and quickly, he gathered himself and his cane, and began to leave the patio and her home. “I have to go,” he said.
Anya was left on the patio, bemused by her friend’s unusual exit. He often hid himself away from the company of others when he felt overwhelmed, or when he was burdened with memories of tragedies long past – it was a mutual trait they shared; but his flight from her instead, appeared riddled with fear and despair. She worried for her friend and his wellbeing.
Viktor spent the remainder of the day tormented by the agony in knowing that, even if his physical form could function in the way it was intended, Anya would suffer nonetheless. She returned all of his affections, she kissed him with equal passion, but his desire for her, and his desire to please her, did not outweigh his moral duty to protect her. Even from himself. Refraining from bonding with her was the most obvious and ethical choice. Still, his mind entertained the fantasy of fulfilling his lifespan with her – in the hope that he could find a solution to the dilemma: that he could bond with her now, and that she would be spared any pain for the remainder of her long life. He weighed every consequence, charted every nuance of every possible outcome should they spend their lives together: he thought of what involvements or restrictions would be required of him at her temple; he contemplated the consequences of being involved with an Academy donor, if he would need to quit his position there; he sought visions of their children. But grief found him once more as he pained himself to imagine their faces, and their genetic components. He was told as an adolescent that the probability of his reproduction would be limited, due to the prolonged chemical exposure he endured in the Fissures. He never longed for children – they were a hindrance, and an additional responsibility he could not afford, neither monetarily, nor emotionally. But the thought that he could not offer Anya the option of their creation was yet another mark against the benefits of their union.
He attended his physician, and sought clarity and advice, on both impotence and infertility. It was the same physician he had seen since he moved to Piltover, after his acceptance into the Academy – there were few in the upper city who understood the effects of post-polio syndrome, and who were trained enough to treat the atrophy and nerve damage associated with it.
“It’s not an uncommon complaint,” his doctor reassured him. “There are plenty of treatments. Are you sexually active now?”
“No, I have not been.”
His doctor eyed him with disbelief. “Ever?” he pressed.
Viktor pursed his lips. “No.”
“With anyone? Men or women.”
“No.”
“I can only do my best to help if you tell me the truth.”
“I am becoming offended.”
The doctor put up his hands and returned to reading his clipboard. Out of the many years he had seen him, Viktor was never known to be a liar. “Alright, alright. You’d be surprised how many people try to lie about this stuff. I just want to get the whole picture.”
Viktor paused and suppressed his offence with discomfort. He advanced the conversation instead: “Intimacy has never been of interest to me. However, I am entertaining the idea of intimacy with one person.” He hesitated, and swallowed, a part of him afraid that if he spoke his concern aloud it would somehow alter the future – like the runes and the spellwork he rigorously studied: “I must also know if I am able to have children.”
“Not a problem. I’ll write a prescription, and schedule a test. You’ll get the results in about a week.” The doctor scrawled words on a pad of paper; he tore it and handed it to Viktor.
He was twenty-eight with a prescription of pills made for old men – it did nothing to preserve his self-confidence.
Viktor made scarce appearances in the lab, and he avoided Anya altogether for the duration of the week. He had no wherewithal to sustain the society of others, especially that of Anya. He continued to work on the various combinations of runes apart from Jayce – there were thousands of possibilities, and Viktor found it preoccupied his mind well enough to dispose of his anxiety, if only temporarily.
On the sixth day, he received a letter from his physician’s office, it sat unopened on his dining table for hours, and he dreaded its contents. For nearly a week, he allowed himself to linger in the purgatory between hope and pessimism – there was a quiet part of him that imagined a life with Anya, that entreated him to dream of what her child would look like, what it would sound like, how it would live long after his expiration; a small and fantastical acceptance wormed itself through his mind, that he would be its father, that he could give her a gift which would last the long ages of her life by her side, and by which she would always remember him.
There was less than a one percent chance he could conceive, the results read.
His hand curled around the paper, and balled into a fist. He threw the results across the room, and anything else in his way – he retreated from his apartment.
The Sun hung in the mid horizon, fiery streaks of orange and lavender illuminated the sky, but he had no appreciation for them. He sat in his usual nook, nestled within the hydraulic dam he was wont to visit when his mind rejected the atmosphere of reality. A cigarette rested between his fingers that ran along his furrowed brow, his right leg over the ledge; a cool and quiet breeze sifted through the edge of the cities, and brought with it various scents and memories. He should have enjoyed the relaxation that seemed to beckon him, but his heart was bitter and acrid towards anything gentle and soft.
“If I did not know better, I would say you are avoiding me,” Anya’s soft voice spoke from behind him.
Viktor started, and his head whipped around to see her standing there, meekly in the shadows. “Myša,” he exhaled, the agitation of surprise lacing his voice. Her hands tugged at each other nervously, they hung at her middle; her eyes pled him not to send her away. Despite his ire, and the anguish that prevented him from holding her gaze, he did not renounce her.
Anya sat opposite him, and watched as the veil of thin clouds passed over the large disk of the Sun in the distance. “Do you ever wonder what it would be like, to be back in Zaun?” she asked.
He gave no answer.
“I would never wish for it. But a morbid part of me misses it. I knew my place there. Things – though they were awful – made sense. Now I am free, but I feel lost.”
He took another breath from his cigarette.
“I won everything. But now I am alone.”
He scoffed, the irony that he could not satisfy her desire of companionship panged him. “I suppose all of us should be careful what we wish for.”
She looked at him, and furrowed. “Have I offended you?”
He sighed and brushed his finger over his brow as he thought. “No, Anya. You have not.” He put out the cigarette and gathered both his courage and his stoicism. “I received word yesterday that your donation was accepted. I am no longer your liaison.”
His behavior still perplexed her – such news was not enough to partition himself from her completely, as he had for the past week. “I suppose we will see each other at the lab, instead, from now on,” she said.
He nodded in agreement, but he did not look at her.
She remained silent, preoccupying herself with the vision of the sunset, instead. It reminded her of their childhood.
“If I could, I would spend with you a thousand millennia,” Viktor spoke, suddenly.
Anya looked at him, shocked.
“If I could, I would spend every day with you. And if I could, I would give you a child like yourself. There is nothing I would not do – if it meant I did it with you. But I cannot. I cannot do…any of it.” He still did not look at her, pain gripped him with uneasy talons, and he could not settle himself enough to give her his sight. “It is better, then, that you do not waste your efforts of affection on me.”
“It is my affection to give,” she said, her voice muddled with sorrow. “It is a gift.”
“There will never be a gift that I can give you in return.” He looked at her, and watched as a tear fell from her face; he meant to spare her pain, not bring it. But he reasoned that a small grief now, would be better than a lasting anguish for the rest of her life.
Viktor stood, with the aid of his cane, and offered his hand to help her to her feet. She took it – her hand soft and heated with the everlasting blood of her people. He bowed his head, and kissed the tops of her fingers, her warmth leaving a sweetness on his mouth.
“Goodbye, Anya,” he said.
He left, and in his absence, imparted a shadow of himself into Anya’s heart.
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Craving Simplicity [IQ Drain/ABDL]
The morning sun streamed through the sheer curtains of Elise's simply furnished living room, casting a gentle glow on the carpeted floor. Sitting upright on a comfortable armchair, Elise focused intently on Clara, her caretaker for the morning, as she began the verbal cognitive test.
"Elise," Clara began with a clear, measured voice, "What is the capital of France?"
"Paris," Elise responded without hesitation.
"Can you spell 'elephant' for me?"
"E-L-E-P-H-A-N-T," she replied confidently.
The test continued in this manner, and Elise's answers flowed effortlessly, painting a picture of a sharp and educated mind. Every question Clara posed, Elise answered correctly. This was the beginning, the baseline from which her chosen journey would commence.
As the final question concluded, and Clara noted down Elise's perfect score, one couldn't help but wonder: How did someone come to such a decision?
The story began several months ago when Elise's life took an unexpected turn. Winning the lottery was a shock to her system. Suddenly, she found herself unburdened by financial constraints, yet the weight of societal expectations seemed heavier than ever. She longed for a simpler life, free from the complexities, decisions, and burdens of intelligence.
The idea began as a fleeting thought, but it consumed her over time. She researched extensively and found that her goal was likely possible, to shed the layers of her intellectual capabilities. The decision was made. She would embark on a journey to mentally simplify herself, completely escaping the intricacies of life.
Elise's home had been bought as a reflection of her desire. Simplicity ruled every corner — from the basic furniture to the muted colors. Spaces were designed to be safe, easy to clean, and accommodating for her eventual decline.
The task of finding the right team to guide her through this transformation was meticulous. She needed professionals who would respect her decision, support her through the process, and ensure her safety. Enter Clara, Naomi, Giselle, and Fatima, each accomplished caregivers and willing to deal with her strange request.
As the cognitive test concluded, Clara smoothly transitioned to the next task on her list. "Elise," she began gently, "May I check your diaper?"
Elise nodded, a soft smile on her lips. "I'm clean," she assured. But there was no hesitation in her posture as she shifted slightly to allow Clara easier access. Both of them knew this routine was more about the future than the present. As Elise's journey progressed, there would, hopefully, come a time when her self-awareness would diminish. Establishing these habits early ensured an ideally seamless transition.
With a practiced hand, Clara swiftly verified Elise's claim. "All good," she affirmed with a nod.
As Clara moved to the kitchen to prepare lunch, the sounds of pots and pans clinking echoed lightly. While Elise was perfectly capable of feeding herself at this point, minimizing her responsibilities was integral to the process they had embarked upon. Every day, bit by bit, Elise's once fiercely independent life was being simplified. And while outsiders might find it puzzling, for Elise, it felt like a logical path to tranquility and peace, giving up logic.
The smell of a warm, freshly prepared meal wafted through the house. Elise sat down, picking up her fork and beginning to eat. Clara sat adjacent, keeping a watchful but discreet eye on her, ensuring she ate safely, even though Elise was more than capable of handling the meal independently, the ‘for now’ hung in the air.
Once her plate was empty and the table cleared, the two made their way back into the living room. Clara grabbed the remote and turned on the television. The screen flickered to life, revealing bright, animated images paired with upbeat music. It was a children's show, the kind designed to capture young minds with its colorful animations and repetitive, simple narratives.
Elise's surroundings were carefully curated to foster her decision. The TV had been specifically modified to only broadcast children's programming. While such content might seem juvenile to someone of Elise's cognitive ability, the aim was to limit her exposure to mentally stimulating material.
She sat, looking at the screen with a concentration that was almost endearing. Her bright eyes followed the animated characters as they went about their adventures. The depth of her intellect meant that she couldn't immerse herself in it, but trying to was a necessity — the simplicity didn't challenge her mind, which was precisely the point.
After a while, Clara glanced at the clock, noting the approaching appointment with the hypnotist. Turning to Elise, she softly inquired, "Elise, do you need a diaper change before the hypnotist arrives?"
Elise paused for a moment before nodding. "Yes," she said.. "I’m wet." Though Elise still maintained full control over her continence, she had chosen to utilize her diapers completely, embracing each aspect of her journey towards simplicity. Her admission was calm and without embarrassment, an acceptance of the path she had chosen.
Guiding Elise gently by the arm, Clara led her to her bedroom. The space, filled with soft hues and functional furnishings, reflected the practicality required for their daily routines. Once in the room, Clara assisted Elise onto the changing table, moving with practiced care. The process was conducted clinically and professionally, ensuring her charge was perfectly clean before putting a fresh diaper onto her.
Once Elise was fresh and clean, they headed back to the living room to await the hypnotist, the most essential part of Elise’s descent.
A rhythmic knock on the door interrupted the TV. Clara turned it off before quickly moving to answer it. Standing outside was Dr. Naomi Lavelle, her striking green eyes taking in the interior of the house with a practiced glance. She gave Clara a nod of acknowledgment, her sleek bob reflecting the soft glow of the living room lights.
"Dr. Lavelle," Clara greeted, offering a respectful smile, "Please, come in."
"Thank you, Clara," the doctor responded smoothly, stepping into the home. She immediately caught sight of Elise, who had risen from her seat in anticipation of the doctor's arrival.
The two women exchanged pleasantries briefly, the air filled with an underlying sense of purpose. Clara then turned to Elise, her voice gentle, "Do you need anything before I leave?"
Elise pondered for a moment, then shook her head. "No, thank you, Clara. I'm ready."
Clara gave a reassuring nod, her gaze lingering on Elise for a second longer than necessary, betraying her concern for her charge’s wellbeing in subtly disagreeing with her choice. "Alright then, I'll see you later, Elise. Dr. Lavelle, please let me know if you need anything." With that, Clara quietly left the room.
Dr. Lavelle moved gracefully towards Elise, gesturing for her to take a seat on the comfortable armchair. As Elise settled in, the doctor began her preparation, retrieving a small pendulum from her satchel. "Are you ready, Elise?" she asked, her voice carefully practiced to possess a mellifluous quality, designed to soothe and calm. Elise nodded, her gaze locked onto Dr. Lavelle's.
The doctor began her induction, her voice dropping an octave, filling the room with a deep resonance. The pendulum began its hypnotic swing, and Dr. Lavelle wove a tapestry of words and imagery, guiding Elise deeper into a trance state. Minutes flowed like seconds, and soon, Elise's breathing slowed, her body relaxing completely as she entered a profound hypnotic state.
Dr. Lavelle's voice was soft yet guiding, her tone sure and steady as she began:
"Elise, imagine yourself in a big, colorful balloon. This balloon is taking you to a place where everything is easy, like floating on a cloud.
Up here, the world is simpler, brighter, and full of joy. Feel how light you are, how free you are from all the knotted strings and heavy weights.
Now, think about all the big, complicated things that used to take up so much space in your head. Imagine them like heavy books in a backpack.
Each time you think of something difficult, that book goes into your backpack, making it heavier and heavier.
But up here, in your balloon, you don't need those heavy books.
You can let them go. Just drop them, one by one, and watch as they fall away, getting smaller and smaller until they disappear.
Feel how much lighter you become with each one you let go.
Your caretakers, they're here to help.
They're like gentle breezes guiding your balloon, making sure you're safe, making sure you float easy.
When they talk to you or ask you things, don't think too hard about it.
Responding with easy, light answers is like letting a bit of air out of the balloon – simple, freeing. And if sometimes you don't know the answer, that's okay too. They'll help you, and you'll float on.
With each passing day, your balloon will rise higher, away from the world of heavy books and complicated things.
Instead, you'll float among the clouds, where everything is soft and easy, where the sun is always shining and the air is always light.
Remember this place, Elise. Whenever you feel yourself getting tangled in difficult thoughts, come back to your balloon.
Let the heavy things fall away, and embrace the joy of floating easy. Because in this place, simple is good, and easy is best."
Dr. Lavelle let her words hang in the air, allowing Elise to fully absorb the message, and to begin embracing the simplicity and ease that lay ahead. Elise blinked slowly, her eyelids feeling heavy as the session with Dr. Lavelle came to an end. There was a lightness in her head, almost as if the thick fog outside had seeped in, making everything feel distant and dreamy. She tried to recall the specifics of the session but found it challenging to piece together the words that were spoken, like trying to catch smoke with her fingers, she didn’t even realize Dr. Lavelle had left.
She noticed the door open, and Naomi walked in, her soft features illuminated by the evening light. "Hey there," Naomi greeted gently, her voice kind. "Let's see if you need a change, shall we?" Without waiting for a verbal response, Naomi gently patted the front of Elise's diaper. It was wet, but not overly so. "I think we can wait a bit longer, after dinner maybe," she commented, more to herself than to Elise.
Naomi headed to the kitchen, and soon, the delicious aroma of something cooking wafted through the air. The sounds and scents felt comforting to Elise, adding to the gentle cocoon the hypnosis had wrapped around her.
Once dinner was ready, Naomi helped Elise to the dining table. The meal was simple but tasty, and even though Elise was quite capable of feeding herself, Naomi stayed close, watching her with attentive eyes, as was her job.
After dinner, they moved to the living room. The TV sprung to life, its screen filled with vibrant colors and cheerful characters from a children's show. Elise, in her foggy state, found herself more captivated, or perhaps just more distracted from her haze, than usual by the simplistic storylines and exaggerated expressions of the characters. Each scene felt new, and each character's emotion seemed to pop.
As the show progressed, Elise felt a familiar pressure in her lower abdomen. Not wanting to break her focus on the television, she let herself relax, releasing her bowels into the diaper without hesitation. Once done, she turned to Naomi, "I pooped," she stated matter-of-factly, her voice devoid of embarrassment.
Naomi nodded, turning off the TV. "Alright, let's get you cleaned up and ready for bed." With practiced ease, Naomi helped Elise into her room, gently changing her and making sure she was comfortable.
Tucked into her crib-like bed, Elise felt the last remnants of the day's fog start to lift. The world around her began to come into sharper focus, but there was still a softness to it, a gentle buffer that separated her from the complexities and intricacies of the world.
With Naomi's soft goodnight, Elise closed her eyes, allowing sleep to claim her, no concern for what the next day would bring.
Over the next month, Elise's life fell into a sort of routine. The days were punctuated by her bi-weekly hypnosis sessions with Dr. Lavelle, whose words seemed to create a gentle ripple in Elise's consciousness. The effects of the hypnosis weren't immediately striking or drastic; in fact, the changes were so subtle that only someone paying very close attention would notice.
One day, while Clara was on duty, she observed Elise trying to tie her shoelaces. The process seemed to take just a touch longer than before. Elise would look at the laces, her brow furrowing in concentration, before successfully tying them.
"Need some help there?" Clara inquired, her voice neutral, avoiding any undertones of condescension.
"No, I've got it," Elise replied, her tone slightly distracted. After a few more seconds than usual, she finally secured the knots.
During breakfast one morning with Naomi, Elise paused longer between bites, her eyes occasionally drifting into the distance as though she was gathering her thoughts or trying to grasp onto a fleeting memory.
On another occasion, Giselle asked Elise a question about a book she was reading a week ago. "Do you remember that character's name from the story?" she inquired. Elise's face scrunched up in thought, and it took her a few moments before she hesitantly responded, "Uh, was it... Emily?"
Fatima noticed that during their evening strolls in the garden, Elise's responses to her casual questions or observations about the flowers and trees seemed to have an added pause, as if she was taking an extra moment to process the information.
Yet, these instances were few and far between, like blips on a radar. The majority of the time, Elise still functioned very much like her old self, albeit with a slightly slower pace in thought and action.
None of the caretakers treated her any differently. They interacted with her as they would with any other adult who needed a bit of assistance or had specific care requirements. Conversations remained mature, though they might occasionally require a bit more patience.
As the month drew to a close, it was clear that the hypnosis was having its intended effect, but it was also evident that this was just the beginning of Elise's journey.
As the calendar pages turned, heralding the arrival of the second month, subtle shifts in Elise’s behavior and cognition began to blossom into more noticeable changes. The house was quiet on a particular morning as Clara prepared to administer the routine cognitive test. Elise sat across from her, a blank expression on her face, waiting.
"Okay, Elise," Clara began, her tone clinical yet gentle. "Can you name the objects in this picture?" She presented a series of simple images to Elise - a ball, a tree, a cat.
Elise's eyes flickered across the images. "Ball," she said without hesitation, but as her eyes moved to the next image, there was a perceptible pause, "Tree," and then another slight hesitation, "Cat." Her answers were correct, but the sluggishness of her responses was slightly more pronounced.
In the evenings, when the television flickered with the colors and shapes of children’s shows, Elise seemed more absorbed. Her eyes followed the movements on the screen with a greater sense of fascination, and she would occasionally let out soft chuckles or mimic the simple actions of the characters, her eyes reflecting the gentle, uncomplicated joy of the presented stories.
Reading time became a more engrossing activity for Elise. Naomi would often find her settled comfortably in a corner, a colorful children’s book spread open in her lap. The books were incredibly simple, designed for young children, containing minimal text. Elise would turn the pages slowly, mouthing the few words silently, her fingers tracing the bold illustrations. The simplicity of the content seemed to captivate her in a unique way, the straightforward narratives and vivid images holding her attention more effectively.
Another calendar page down, as it did every morning, the sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the living room floor. Elise was sprawled on the couch, her eyes glued to the television screen. The animated characters danced and sang, prompting their young viewers to clap along or shout out answers. While Elise didn't actively participate in the back-and-forth of the show, her attention was undeniably captured by the unfolding storyline.
After a particularly vibrant song sequence, Elise turned her head toward Giselle, who was nearby, tidying up the room. "Can I color?" she asked, her voice holding a hint of childlike enthusiasm.
Giselle smiled, "Of course, but let me check you first."
Elise shifted slightly to accommodate a check, "I'm dry," she stated confidently.
However, as Giselle approached and gently checked the state of her diaper, she felt the unmistakable dampness. "Seems like you've had a little accident," she noted softly.
Elise's brows furrowed in surprise, touching the front of her diaper. The realization of her accident washed over her, but her face didn't register much distress or embarrassment. Instead, she shrugged slightly, "Can you change me later? I really want to color now."
Giselle, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and comfort, replied, "Let's get you changed first, and then you can color as much as you want." Elise didn't protest, nodding in agreement.
After the swift changing process, Giselle handed Elise a coloring book and a box of crayons. Elise settled down on the floor, flipping to a page with a large, intricate butterfly. As she began coloring, it was clear she was deeply engrossed in the activity. Her tongue occasionally peeked out in concentration, and she took special care to ensure her crayon strokes remained within the lines. The world around her faded away as she immersed herself in the simple joy of coloring, a vivid testament to her evolving mental state.
The seasons changed, but within the confines of her simple home, the rhythm remained consistent. Each morning began with one of her four caretakers, either Clara, Naomi, Giselle, or Fatima, administering the cognitive test. Elise, who once breezed through it, now paused often, her forehead wrinkling in concentration. Especially after a session with Dr. Lavelle, she struggled more with the memory questions.
When it came to her diapers, she often sat unaware of their dampness until one of her caretakers checked and informed her. She'd just nod and wait to be changed. At times, she'd be engaged in something on the TV or a coloring book, only to repeat a word she heard, her voice sounding like she was trying it out for the first time.
Coloring used to be a task she found simple, but now her hands seemed to rebel against her intent, lacking the precision they once had, often went slightly outside the lines as she hurried.
Meal times had their challenges too. More than once, Clara or Fatima would have to clean up a spill, gently chiding Elise to be more careful. It wasn't long before they introduced a bib, which she wore without protest. And her regular glass was replaced with a cup with a lid to minimize spills.
Yet through it all, Elise didn’t seem upset. She accepted her changing capacities, not with joy but with indifference, as if that’s the way things should be. The world was getting simpler for her, more straightforward and easier to navigate.
One sunny morning, Elise was seated on her comfortable couch, eyes glued to the vibrant colors and cheerful voices emanating from the children's show on the TV. Clara was on duty, ensuring Elise’s needs were met. The room filled with the exaggerated enthusiasm of the show's host, encouraging the viewers to clap and sing along and Clara was surprised when Elise obeyed, clapping her hands with surprising eagerness. Her face, usually calm and passive, was animated with a childlike excitement.
Clara observed quietly, noting the change, "You're enjoying the show today, Elise?"
"Yeah! It’s fun!" Elise responded, not shifting her gaze from the screen, and along with the obvious simplicity that she was exhibiting, it seemed she had little concept of what was appropriate left, as Clara observed, one of hands coming to rest between her legs, obviously stimulating herself through her diaper.
"Elise" Clara gently cautioned, grabbing her hand and holding it, redirecting her attention skillfully. But the moment passed unacknowledged by Elise, whose attention remained riveted on the lively antics of the television characters.
A few weeks later, with Naomi present, Elise was again engaged in a kids' show. In the midst of playful tunes, she suddenly announced, "I pooped." as if commenting on the weather, and she continued to watch the show, seemingly unbothered by the state of her pants.
While mildly surprised, Naomi responded professionally. "Alright, Elise. Let’s get you cleaned up," she said, guiding Elise toward her bedroom.
On another day, Giselle was present when post-lunch, Elise had evidently taken a liking to sucking on her fingers, a habit that seemed to comfort her. She sat there, fingers in her mouth, eyes vacantly watching the tv.
"Elise, let’s try to keep our fingers out of our mouth, okay?" Giselle encouraged, offering a stuffed bear instead for Elise to hold.
Elise followed the suggestion momentarily but soon reverted to her fingers, finding solace in the repetitive action, oblivious to the appropriateness or the watchful eyes of her caretaker.
Through each phase, the caretakers maintained their professionalism, adapting to Elise's evolving behaviors and needs without imposing stringent corrections or overt discomfort. They were the quiet pillars, managing each day with adaptability and a focus on Elise's comfort and care.
One morning, mid test, Elise sat at the wooden dining table, her eyes drifting towards the television which was currently off. Fatima noticed her distraction and gently cleared her throat.
“Elise, focus here for a moment,” Fatima said, placing the test booklet in front of her.
Elise blinked, pulling her gaze away from the television, "Can I watch cartoons after?"
"Yes, after we finish the test," Fatima replied patiently. "Ready?"
Elise nodded, though her mind was clearly elsewhere.
"First question, Elise: Can you tell me your full name?"
"Elise..." she hesitated, "... um, Elise Smith?"
"Correct," Fatima noted down. "Now, can you count backwards from ten for me?"
Elise squinted, thinking, "Ten... nine... um... seven?"
Fatima made a note, "That's alright. Moving on. I'm going to name three items: banana, chair, and sun. Can you repeat them back to me?"
"Banana... chair... and... um...?"
Fatima continued, holding up a picture of a dog, "What is this?"
"Puppy!" Elise responded, a hint of enthusiasm in her voice.
"Good. Can you subtract six from fifteen?"
Elise’s fingers began to move as she counted, but she lost track quickly, "Um... eight?"
"That's close," Fatima encouraged. She then held up two cards - one with a face showing anger and another showing confusion. "Can you tell me what these faces are feeling?"
Elise pointed to the first one, "Sad?" And then to the second, "Sad?"
Fatima nodded, jotting down the answers. "Last question, Elise. If I have two apples and I eat one, how many do I have left?"
"One!" Elise said confidently.
"Good job, Elise," Fatima praised, closing the booklet. "You can go watch cartoons now."
Elise's face lit up instantly, "Yay! Cartoons!" She eagerly hopped off the chair and scampered towards the TV, the test already a distant memory.
Elise's cognitive decline became more evident with each passing day. Her behavior during the cognitive test was now expected; she would become distracted easily, often looking around the room or becoming engrossed in the texture of the paper the test was printed on.
Her speech had changed noticeably as well. One day, after Clara had offhandedly referred to Elise's soiled diapers as "poopy," Elise, without a hint of embarrassment or hesitation, started to use the term herself. "I poopied," she'd announce, as simply as if she had said ‘I have to go to the bathroom’.
Naomi, curious about the extent of Elise's reading abilities, one afternoon presented her with one of the simple children's books from the shelf. "Can you read this to me, Elise?" she asked, watching closely. Elise looked at the book, her fingers tracing over the colorful illustrations. "The... ca...cat," she began slowly, sounding out each syllable with effort. It was clear she was relying heavily on the pictures, her eyes darting between the words and the corresponding images, trying to make the connection. When she reached a word she couldn’t immediately decipher, her brow would furrow in concentration. "The cat... likes... mmm... milk," she finished, sounding out the word "milk" with a long pause between 'mil' and 'k.'
Naomi hid her concern behind a gentle smile. "Good job, Elise," she encouraged, even if somewhat disingenuous.
With each passing day, the remnants of Elise's former intellectual capabilities became more scarce, replaced by a simplicity and innocence more akin to a child.
By the sixth month, Elise was a different person than she had been when they met. The sharpness that once defined her had dulled considerably.
In the living room, the glow of the television cast a colorful light, as animated characters danced on screen. Elise sat cross-legged, her eyes wide, fully engrossed. Every so often, a character would pose a question, and Elise would respond with innocent enthusiasm.
"Where's the moon?" the animated rabbit on the screen asked.
"Up in the sky!" Elise exclaimed, pointing upwards, a genuine grin on her face.
During her cognitive tests, it was clear her skills had faded. Giselle, or "Gigi" as Elise now called her, held up a set of fingers. "Elise, how many fingers am I holding up?" Elise squinted, counted her own fingers, then said, "Five?"
"That's right," Gigi replied, even though it had been four. The goal of the test was her inability to complete it anyway. She noted the difficulty in the record book.
Personal boundaries? What personal boundaries?. When Clara, now affectionately termed "Claire" by Elise, came into the room, Elise jumped up and wrapped her arms around her in an unsolicited hug. And once, while sitting on the couch, she tried pulling Naomi, or "Noms", down next to her, giggling when she almost lost her balance.
"Elise, sweetie, I'm too big for you to pull like that," Naomi chided gently.
Elise's bottom lip protruded. "Cuddles," she murmured, her eyes looking up pleadingly.
Some mornings, as the sun streamed through the blinds, Fatima, or "Tima", would walk into Elise's room to wake her up. Today, as she approached, Elise rubbed her eyes, looked up, and exclaimed, "Morning, Noms!"
"It’s Fatima, Elise," Fatima corrected habitually, it was hit or miss if Elise would identify the two of them correctly, both having dark hair and skin despite the fact they didn’t look very similar otherwise.
Mealtimes had become messier. Utensils lay untouched in the drawer, as Elise used her hands to pick up food, she had begun holding forks and spoons like a toddler held a crayon and ended up spilling more food onto the floor. Pasta sauce smeared on her face, her fingers sticky with residue. Naomi watched, holding a napkin ready for the inevitable cleanup.
In the afternoon, Elise often colored. But now, instead of the neat lines she once adhered to, her crayon strokes were wild and uncoordinated. A coloring book lay open, with more color outside the lines than within. Giselle peeked over her shoulder, "That's a nice... flower?" she guessed.
Elise giggled, "It's the sun!"
The days had become indistinguishable for Elise, each one flowing into the next with the same rhythm of children's shows, coloring, and naps. The afternoon sun streamed in, casting a warm glow in the living room where Elise lay, her head resting on Giselle's lap, sucking on her fingers absentmindedly.
Giselle's nose crinkled as an unmistakable odor wafted up. She looked down at Elise, trying to keep her voice neutral. "Elise, did you poop?"
Elise pulled her fingers out of her mouth and blinked up at her with innocent eyes. "Didn't poopy," she declared confidently, returning her fingers back to her mouth.
Giselle, however, knew better. She gently shifted Elise's position and pulled back the waistband of the diaper just a little to peek inside. As suspected, Elise had, in fact, had a bowel movement and hadn't realized.
"Oh, sweetie," Giselle murmured, "you did have a little accident."
Elise looked genuinely surprised, her eyes widening slightly. "No poopy."
Giselle offered a gentle smile, trying to keep the situation calm. "Come on, let's get you changed."
She helped Elise sit up and held out a hand, but Elise pouted, her brow furrowing slightly. "Wanna watch TV," she mumbled, but Giselle persisted.
"It'll just take a minute, and then you can get back to your show," Giselle assured her.
With a slight huff and the promise of returning to her show soon, Elise begrudgingly followed Giselle to her room for a much-needed diaper change.
From that moment, things seemed to nosedive for Elise. She no longer recognized the feeling when she soiled her diaper, often too engrossed in what she was doing. As days turned into weeks, Elise's lack of awareness became even more pronounced. She would sit, her diaper messy, seemingly unperturbed until her caregivers would gently, but firmly, guide her to be changed.
The cognitive tests were soon thrown out. Each time she took them, it became increasingly clear that Elise had ‘passed’. The last test she took saw her easily distracted, her gaze flitting around, her answers either incomprehensible or entirely incorrect. After each had their turn her caretakers had unanimously decided the test was to be shelved.
Reading, once a daily routine, even if just childrens books, now became a task beyond her capabilities. She could no longer follow the simple words on the pages of children's books. The only way she connected with them was through the bright and colorful pictures. When her caregivers read to her, her eyes would light up, but it was evident that her understanding was tied primarily to the images she saw and the intonations she heard. Words, in their meaning and depth, seemed to have slipped away from her grasp.
A year after Elise’s descent had begun, it seemed to have reached her desired conclusion. Morning light had barely started filtering through the curtains when Clara entered Elise’s room. The sight that met her eyes was both surprising and dismaying. Elise sat amidst a chaotic mess on her bed, her diaper partly off, its contents smeared across the sheets, walls, and clothes. Clara noticed some of the mess perilously close to Elise’s grinning mouth, "Poopy" she said clumsily in two distinct syllables, a grim realization settling in, there wasn’t much left in that pretty head. It seemed that they would now have to consider additional preventive measures like hand mittens or back-zipping sleepers to prevent such incidents in the future.
Carefully, Clara began the clean-up process, gently steering Elise to the bathroom for a thorough wash. Elise seemed oblivious to the enormity of the mess, her eyes vacant, but a small, contented smile playing on her lips. Post-cleanup, dressed in fresh clothes and a clean diaper, Elise was led to the living area where she plopped down, immediately drawn to the vibrant colors and sounds emanating from the children’s television show playing, despite the fact she had seen the episode dozens of times and words were a bit past her understanding.
After breakfast, which Clara fed to her, as Elise’s clumsy hands generally ended up putting food everywhere but her mouth, they moved on to a different set of activities. Coloring seemed to engross Elise, but her lack of coordination and understanding made the activity more chaotic, past using coloring books, a wild array of scribbles across a blank page.
Diaper changes punctuated the day, fitting into the natural rhythm of activities. Clara noticed that Elise's bowel movements had become remarkably regular since losing her control, typically occurring an hour after meals. Elise’s awareness of her own bodily functions was non-existent, except apparently when it was disgusting playtime; she showed no signs of discomfort or realization, even when her diaper was soiled.
Naomi took over in the afternoon, subbing in like clockwork. Safety had become a more pressing concern as Elise seemed to have lost a sense of danger or hygiene. Naomi had to be extra vigilant, ensuring that Elise didn’t put inappropriate objects in her mouth, a behavior she had increasingly started displaying.
The day unfolded with simple, structured activities - playing with soft toys, watching more children's TV shows, and some time spent idly flipping through cardboard picture books, her caretakers no longer trusting her with the paper ones as they would often end up damp with saliva. Elise’s face close to the pages as she tried to make sense of the vibrant images.
As evening approached, Naomi helped Elise with her dinner, doing the strap on her chair to keep her in place as she fed her, followed once again by more cartoons. Naomi maintained a watchful presence able to intervene if necessary, like the many occasions things find their way into her mouth.
Night fell, bringing with it a soft, enveloping silence as the TV was clicked off. Elise, fresh diaper on, and nestled comfortably in her bed, drifted off to sleep.
Elise's transition over the year had been remarkable, not just for her but for her caregivers too. Clara, Naomi, Giselle, and Fatima had begun their roles with the understanding that their task was unique. They had been given the responsibility of assisting a competent adult through a process that would gradually diminish her capabilities. But as the months wore on, their duties shifted from that of unconventional overseers to something much more familiar. Their roles mirrored what they had trained for: caring for someone functionally disabled.
It was a profound change to witness. Elise, once self-sufficient and independent, now needed constant oversight. Her day-to-day activities, once complex and filled with variety, had simplified to the point of predictability. Each of her caregivers now found themselves falling back on their foundational training, tapping into their skills and knowledge of caring for someone with significant cognitive limitations.
Yet, through it all, there was a solace in knowing Elise was content. Whether it was the genuine smile that played on her lips as she watched a children's show or the soft humming sound she made while coloring, there was an evident joy in her actions. Elise might not have the capability to understand the full spectrum of her choices or the depth of the journey she had undertaken, but in her limited awareness, she was happy. She was ensconced in a world of simplicity, colors, and comforts. The once complex tapestry of her life had been replaced with broad, vibrant strokes on a nearly blank sheet of paper.
And so, life carried on. The caregivers, dedicated and compassionate, continued their roles with diligence and care. And Elise, in her own world, found a unique kind of peace.
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