"You're grounded until further notice."

"I…"

"I don't want to hear it!" Jennifer said, causing Lizzie to jolt.

Her mom looked at her, paused, and took a deep breath before continuing, "at least not right now. I need to figure things out. Leave your phone downstairs, then go to your room. I'll call you down for dinner and we can talk then."

That was the only thing her mom said to her after the painstakingly-long car ride home. In fact, Jennifer had also been mostly quiet during the discussion in Principal Matthew's office. Not that there had been much of a discussion. She'd remained mostly silent, but what she hadn't expected was for Morgan to sit quietly too, and the only facts laid out were the little that Mr. Henning's had seen. Perhaps all of them had been just as stunned as she was.

Not that Jennifer's subdued reaction was of little comfort to her. Her mind raced as she headed upstairs, knowing fearing what punishments would lie ahead.

She tore off her pants as soon as she entered the room. She'd wet a lot less than she'd thought, and the already-faint patch on her black jeans had all but disappeared now. It seemed like no one had noticed.

But somehow, that felt like the least of her worries now.

She stood in front of the mirror rubbing the small red scratch on her left cheek.

How had it even happened?

Why had she lost control?

She was never like this.

Right?

She thought back to her recent outbursts. With her cousins at Christmas, with Ivie and her parents about her protection, with Madison at the chess tournament… and now this.

What is wrong with me? I'm no different than a little kid throwing tantrums!

Her thoughts drifted to her rebellious moments in recent months. Taking off her protection, defying the rules, and even sneaking off to a party.

A year ago, all of these would've seemed unfathomable to her. Yet here she was.

I'm just another one of those childish teenagers.

The conclusion reverberated in her mind, like the sound of glass shattering into a thousand pieces.

"No! I'm better than them!" she whispered aloud, as if saying it would somehow make it true.

"I'm not like everyone else. I'm not…" Her voice trailed.

She was different. Deep down, it was something she'd always believed. While other kids — be it her classmates, her cousins, or her friends — acted like fools, she was above that, responsible and mature, an adult.

Yet here she was, breaking the rules, sneaking off to parties, getting involved in drama, and to top it all off, starting a fist fight!

She could still remember the red in her eyes as her hands moved on their own, tearing at whatever they could reach, lashing out with an anger she'd never felt before.

She shivered.

No, she wasn't just another one of them. She was somehow worse.

Lizzie plopped onto bed, curling herself into a tight little ball. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she wiped it off, biting down on her lip as she begged herself not to cry.

She lay, teetering on the edge, barely holding on as torrents of thought clashed within her mind. Her breath shallow as all of her demons surfaced, threatening to drown her. She wrapped herself around Cuddles, clinging onto him like a lifeline in the storm.

There was a metallic taste in her mouth as she felt the tears beginning to form. But just as she could feel her walls crack, there was a knock on the door.

Lizzie looked up to see her mom holding a plate of oranges and a glass of water.

"Can I come in?" Jennifer handed her the plate. "Here. In case you get hungry before dinner."

"Thanks," she said, only barely managing to not choke on the word.

She clutched onto Cuddles tighter as she felt her mom's eyes scanning her up and down.

"Do you feel comfortable talking about it now?" Jennifer finally asked.

"Yeah." She wiped her face.

Her mom sat down on the bed next to her. "So, tell me, what exactly happened?"

And so Lizzie recounted the events, starting with the note.

She dug it out from her backpack, and explained how she was worried if she went to the principal or teachers that her secret would be exposed.

Moving on, she described the acts she'd been forced to do. Dressing up childishly and recording the stupid song.

When she mentioned the messages, her mom asked her to show them, and so Lizzie grabbed her phone from downstairs.

She explained how she had at first believed it was Madison's fault, and how they'd gotten into an argument as a result. But after they worked things out, how they formulated a plan to catch the blackmailer.

Lizzie carefully eyed her mom as she spoke. Thankfully, the note alongside the messages supported her claims, and her mom nodded along as she continued.

"So after I figured out it was Morgan, I knew I had to confront her. I just wanted her to admit to it and apologize. But then she started taunting me, telling me how it was actually a lie all along, and laughing at how stupid I was, and then—"

"And then you lashed out," Jennifer interrupted.

"Yeah, but she knocked me to the ground first!"

"Morgan pushed you first?"

"Yes!"

"But Morgan said you were trying to steal her phone."

"Because she was playing the video of me singing to taunt me!" Lizzie could feel the tears building.

"I see," Jennifer said simply.

The two sat in silence for a moment. Lizzie wiped the tears from her eyes, and glanced toward her mom, who had put a hand under her nose and looked out the window.

"Thank you for explaining everything. I think that puts things into perspective. I better understand why you got so angry, and what Morgan did was inexcusable. I'm sure her parents will punish her accordingly."

Lizzie doubted it, but nodded, saying nothing.

"However, you know that using physical force, no matter the reason, is wrong."

"But…"

"But nothing Lizzie. Fists are never the solution. I thought your father and I taught you that. It wasn't acceptable when you fought with your cousins back in the day, and it certainly isn't any more acceptable now.

"You could've easily gone straight to the principal with Madison after talking to Selina, but you decided to try and handle the situation on your own. Even from your own recount, you lost control after being taunted, and you were both responsible for the escalation into the actual fight.

"You're lucky you both got away with only minor scratches. What would've happened if one of you fell onto the prop she was painting, or Heaven forbid, off the stage?"

Lizzie bit her lip. After all, there was nothing to say. Her mom was right.

"Do you understand why I'm disappointed?"

"Yes," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.

Her mom took a deep breath. "You'll be grounded for a week with no electronics. And since you're suspended from school for the next few days, you'll be doing some extra chores around the house. I'll have a list ready by tomorrow. This is subject to change after I talk with your father and make sure he comes to the same conclusion. Do you have any questions?"

"No." Lizzie held in a sigh. As far as punishments went, this was lighter than what she'd expected. Being grounded for a week didn't sound too bad, it wasn't like she was in the mood to go out anyways.

Her phone chimed with a notification, but Lizzie handed it to her mom without looking at it.

"If you don't mind, I'll also take the note along with screenshots of the messages, and tell the school what you told me today, to make sure they understand the full story, since we didn't have all of the facts earlier."

The declaration surprised her, and Lizzie looked up, noticing something in her mother's eyes.

The intense, burning glare she had when she was furious, but this time, it wasn't directed at her. Instead, her mom looked like an angry bear, warning others to stay away from her cub.

Lizzie's phone chimed twice more, and they both turned to look at it.

Their eyes met, and the flame in her mom's stare faded. She handed the phone back. "Go put it back downstairs, but I'll give you five minutes to message your friends to let them know you won't be able to reply for the next few days."

"Oh… okay," Lizzie said, but thanked her mom before leaving. Her phone buzzed again. To her surprise, she had about a dozen notifications.

"r u alright???"

"i heard u went home early…"

"what happened at the principals office???" Madison's messages were full of worry.

"rumor is that morgan got suspended for a week"

"u didnt get suspended too did u???"

Lizzie smirked, happy to know that Morgan too. As soon as she finished replying, another message appeared.

"yo heard what happened." It was from Vanessa, along with a friend request.

"uncool from morgan. impressed that u stood up for yourself but if anything like this happens again, u should lmk."

Vanessa was standing up for her? Lizzie felt herself blush. "thank u Vanessa i appreciate it"

"just call me Nessa no need to be so formal girl!"

"ok… ty Nessa"

"np. btw party at my place this sat, u in?"

"i wanna but im grounded"

"what??? do your parents even know what happened?"

"ya… but fightings a big nono in my family so im still grounded anyways"

"dang thats harsh. no way u got blackmailed AND youre being punished."

"as far as punishments go i actually got off easy… my mum actually listened and stood up for me this time…" Just as she was about to hit send, Lizzie shook her head, erasing it instead.

"ya my mom can be real strict b sometimes… actually she wouldnt even let me go to ur party last time… but i still snuck out!!" She finished her message with a couple of smirking emotes before sending.

"dang, who knew u were such a bad girl"

"gtg tho, maybe i can sneak out again on sat"

"aight bet." Vanessa gave her a thumbs up.

Lizzie put away her phone, but not before smiling to herself for what seemed like the first time in forever. Obviously, she wasn't about to sneak out again, but knowing that she was now friends with Vanessa — or should she say Nessa — meant there'd be plenty more opportunities in the future.

More importantly, once word spread that she was close friends with Nessa and Madison, no one would dare bother her again.

Perhaps one good thing had come out of this entire fiasco.

With not much else to do, Lizzie decided to get a head start on her homework. Unfortunately, it didn't keep her occupied for long, and it was only half past four when she finished.

There was still a couple hours until dinner, and Lizzie quickly grew bored. Her mind began searching for her phone and Switch, only to remember that they'd been confiscated.

She sighed, plopping onto her bed, feeling exhausted as the day's events caught up to her. With nothing better to do, Lizzie didn't even notice herself drift off.

***

Lizzie awoke with a start to see her mom standing over her, eyes wide.

Why hadn't she knocked?

But before she could complain, a chilly sensation from beneath her caused her to freeze. Suddenly her mom's expression made sense.

The two of them stared at each other in silence.

Jennifer exhaled toward the ceiling before turning back to her. "Go change, clean yourself up, and then go downstairs, food is on the table."

When she didn't move, her mom continued, "I'll clean up. Just go."

Lizzie bit her lip, snatching up some clothes before rushing off to the bathroom.

Her mom was still busy with the sheets when she finished, so she went downstairs. To her surprise, the clock already read seven thirty.

There was a large pan of pasta on the table. On any other day, the delicious smell would've had her mouth watering, but at the moment, the pit in her stomach left her feeling queasy.

After fixing herself a small plate, she sat down, twirling the spaghetti round and round her fork as she contemplated what to say once her mom returned.

***

"I'm sorry!" Lizzie said when her mom finally returned to the dining area.

"Save it."

"But mom, I didn't mean to! I just fell asleep by accident! I promise!"

"Oh, so you accidentally forgot to wear your protection, even after we've been drilling it into you for the past month? Did you also accidentally forget that I told you not to go to Vanessa's party too?"

What? Lizzie froze.

"I didn't…"

"Oh, so now we're lying too?" Jennifer's voice rose. "If you didn't sneak off to the party then please explain this!" Her mom pulled something out of her pocket and slammed it onto the table.

Her phone. The messages with Vanessa on the screen, clear as day.

"I knew something was off about you that morning. But there I was, convincing myself that maybe, just maybe, you've grown up and matured, and that your father and I should start treating you more like an adult. So I've been listening to you, trusting you, and giving you the benefit of the doubt."

"And for what?!" Jennifer slammed the table, causing Lizzie to flinch. She glanced up, only to meet a glare that left her cowering away. "Just so you can spit in my face? Not only that, but what's this? You planned on sneaking off again on Saturday?"

"I—"

"I am not done! Your protection. After recent events you should know better than to sleep without it, especially since you've been waking up wet practically every single day. But perhaps I overestimated you. Is this your way of acting out? Or is this all just a joke to you?"

"It's not—" Lizzie started.

"No…" Jennifer cut her off, her voice cold. "Your time for excuses is over. And since you seem to think this is all a joke, time to show you just how serious I can be."

The statement sent a shiver down her spine. Lizzie opened her mouth to defend herself. But what could she say? She'd been caught red-handed with sneaking off, and after everything that happened, how was her mom going to believe that the wetting was an accident or that the message was a joke?

"Finish your food quickly, and go… go and take a shower and get ready for bed. Do you understand?"

Lizzie nodded.

"Elizabeth Jane Cooper." Each word pierced the air like a dagger. "Do you understand?"

"Yes mom!" Lizzie whimpered, choking back tears. After her mom left, she tried to eat a couple more bites. But the sobbing didn't stop, and every bite threatened to choke her. Eventually she gave up, bringing her plate to the sink before slowly trudging upstairs to take a shower.

As soon as she shut off the water, her mom knocked on the door. She handed her a bundle of fabric. As expected, it was her Rosalina sleeper.

What she hadn't expected was the large white diaper that fell to the ground as she unfolded it. Lizzie bit her lip, she'd hardly leaked since using the goodnite inserts. Had Jennifer forgotten just what the diapers meant to her, had she forgotten about their deal?

Or was it intentional? An additional punishment.

Lizzie opened her mouth to complain, to beg her mom not to make her wear them again, but one look told her that it would be a mistake.

So instead, she put on the diaper and sleeper without a word, letting her mom zip her up. The flap snapped into place, a tone of finality that caused her to shift against the thick padding between her legs.

After brushing her teeth, she trudged behind her mom. As they entered her room, she was met with another surprise. Her sheets and duvet had been changed, but what caught her off guard was the mess of straps lying on top of her bed.

Before Lizzie could react, her mom picked up a bundle and began untangling it, and immediately, she recognized it as her harness.

"What is—"

"Well since you've proven that I can't trust you to stay in bed, this is the only way I can sleep soundly at night."

Without waiting for a reply, her mom began putting the harness around her. Lizzie, still stunned by everything before her, simply stood frozen in place.

By the time she recovered, she felt the harness zipping into place behind her. Before she could even react, she was brought over to the bed and laid down.

"Your Aunt Jenny sent this to us to test for her company. Your father and I didn't want to use it, as it seemed far too restrictive and unnecessary. But your recent actions have proven otherwise."

Her mom pulled straps from each corner of the bed, fastening it to her harness. Lizzie noticed in dismay that, instead of clipping onto the rings like on the car, these straps looped through the rings and back, disappearing around the edges of her bed, well out of reach from where she lay.

The design was clear, she wasn't meant to free herself.

"And just to be safe." Jennifer pulled something out of her pocket, and grabbed Lizzie's hand. The mitten was soon pulled over her fist, and the ribbon secured and double knotted. Her other hand soon received the same treatment.

Jennifer left the room, quickly returning with a device in her hand.

"This here is your old baby monitor. If there's an emergency, you can call and I will hear it in my room. But if you wake me up for anything else, I promise you will be sorry. And no, a bathroom break is not an emergency, you can just go in your diaper and we'll clean it up tomorrow. Do you understand?"

Lizzie felt herself nodding as her brain struggled to process everything.

"I really wish it hadn't come to this." With that, her mom turned off the lights, and left the room.

Lizzie lay there in silence for several minutes as reality slowly set in. She tried to sit up, only to be pulled back down to her bed.

The jolt set off a chain reaction, and she began jerking in all directions, pulling at each tether one by one. While they were long enough to allow her to roll around a bit, the ends were tucked away past the edges of her bed, well out of reach.

She tugged at the harness through her mittens, but it was fastened tightly around her, the unyielding straps embracing her in their vice-like grip.

Twisting and pushing up from her bed as hard as she could, she reached behind her, fiddling around until she felt the zipper pull, only to find that it had been secured with the lock. Even without mittens, it would be impossible to remove.

"Ugh!" she grunted, collapsing back onto the bed.

She was stuck. She was truly and utterly stuck.

The conclusion took a moment to fully settle in, but once it did, she found her heart begin to race. Here she was, chained down to her bed like an animal.

Or a baby in a crib. A voice whispered from the back of her mind as she glanced at the blinking baby monitor.

The parallels were too obvious to ignore. The diaper, the cute footed sleeper, and even the mittens. Put into bed for an early bedtime, and now with an omnipresent monitor because she couldn't be trusted to be on her own.

She fought the urge to scream, choosing instead to grasp at her pillow with her mittened fists.

This was ludicrous! Her mom had gone absolutely insane! Lizzie clawed at the sleeper, the straps, the mattress, everything within reach.

Yet everything withstood her futile efforts with ease. The fabric her soft but unyielding prison. And after a few minutes she thumped back down in a pool of sweat.

She could feel the invisible bars around her bed, caging her in her little crib. She pawed desperately at her diaper. Secured under both her sleeper and harness, she could hardly shift it, let alone rip the tapes. She grunted in frustration, her little tantrum only strengthening the mental imagery.

She was done! Tomorrow, she was going to give her mom an earful! Or better yet, she was going to call the police and get her mom arrested for abuse! Or—"

Just as she was about to scream for help, there was a crackle on the baby monitor, and a dialing tone could be heard. Lizzie blinked. Her mom must've accidentally left the monitor on both ways.

"Hey honey, what happened? What's with the sudden call?" Even though it was quiet, the voice was unmistakably her father's.

"It's Lizzie." Jennifer replied.

"Based on your face, I can only assume it's bad news. What's wrong? What happened?"

"So much…" Jennifer went on to recount everything. About the sneaking out, the wetting, and the fight.

Although Lizzie couldn't quite make out everything, her father remained mostly quiet throughout, only chiming in with a few clarifying questions.

"Wow," was all he said when Jennifer finally concluded the story. "That's quite a lot for a Wednesday."

"I know you must be busy and exhausted. I'm sorry for bringing you into this."

"No, I'm glad you called." There was a long pause. "I don't know what's gotten into her, this isn't like our normal soldier."

"I don't know either. I want to trust her, Phil. I really do. But every time I let go and I see her veering off, I can't help but step in and try to guide her back. Even if she hates it.

"I know she's reaching her teenage years and it's time for her to explore the world on her own, but each time she rebels. I can't… I can't help but feel like a failure."

Faint sounds of sobbing could be heard through the monitor.

"No honey, this isn't your fault. We're trying our best. And Lizzie is a good kid at heart. I know she's been moodier recently, but that's just part of growing up!"

"But it's not, Phil! I know she's your little angel, but even for a teen, her behavior isn't normal. I've been reading around online, and most bedwetting kids her age don't have issues with keeping their protection on. And they certainly don't get into fist fights at school!"

"We just have to give her space to let her find herself."

"I know that's what you said, and that's what we've been trying. But where has that gotten us? It's clearly only gotten worse recently. It was better when we were strict with her, compelled her to follow the rules. Maybe… Maybe that's just the way she learns best."

"Honey…"

"I've been reading online, and some kids just need that rigorous structure. Like take Lucas for example, he does better when things are laid out for him."

"But Lucas is different. Lizzie's not-"

"How can you be so sure?"

"You're not suggesting…"

"No. At least I don't think so. But it would explain some things… And… God, I just don't know at this point… I asked Grant for their psychiatrist. Maybe we should take her in for an appointment and get some more insight."

"I…" There was a pause. "If you think that's best. But let's do this together, I'll book the next flight home and we can discuss in person."

"Okay. I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. We are a team. This isn't our first obstacle. We'll get through this one, and the next. Together."

"Thank you. I love you and I miss you so much."

"I love you and miss you too. Now I'm sorry, but I have to go and make a few calls and arrangements. I'll send you my flight details in a bit."

The call ended, and from down the hall, Lizzie heard the door open followed by footsteps heading toward her room.

Quickly, she pulled her duvet back over herself and shut her eyes. Her door creaked open, and Lizzie forced herself to breathe as calmly as she could.

Her mattress shifted as she felt her mom sit down next to her. A warm hand began brushing her hair — which Lizzie only now realized had gotten all over her face during her struggles.

Her mom sat there for what felt like ages, as Lizzie resisted the urge to make any sudden movements. Her mom shifted behind her. Acting as subtly as she could, Lizzie slowly rolled to one side, chancing a glance in the process.

However, as she did so, the tethers pulled tight, plopping her back onto her back, a small sigh escaping her lips.

Jennifer got up, and Lizzie held her breath, praying her cover wasn't blown. She felt her mom move around the bed, as if inspecting her.

Lizzie kept her eyes shut, willing herself to be a statue.

There was a pause, then footsteps and the sound of the door clicking shut.

Lizzie opened her eyes as she let out a sigh.

Lucas…

They hadn't actually said it, but the implication was clear.

It was sheer ludicrousness. At least that's what she would've thought on any other day. Yet, as she brought her mittened hand to the scratch on her cheek, her thoughts from earlier in the day came flooding back.

Normal girls didn't get into fights like that at school. They didn't lose control and thrash out.

They didn't punch bathroom stalls, throw diapers, or shout in the shower.

She was losing control, and not just over her bladder.

The realization rocked her.

Lizzie rolled to the side, surprising herself when she was able to do so. A quiet part of her realized her mom must've loosened the tethers.

What if her mom was right? What if she needed stricter rules to help her behave?

It certainly seemed that way, after all, the punishments seemed to curb her behavior every time, only for her to break the rules every time they ended.

Lizzie fought against the harness as she felt her diaper squishing into her.

No! She wasn't like Lucas. She didn't need this in order to behave appropriately…

Right?

***

The next morning did not go off to a great start.

Despite a surprisingly good sleep, Lizzie once again awoke to a soggy feeling between her legs.

To make matters worse, she couldn't even do anything about it, other than feebly paw at the now-ginormous padding through several layers of fabric.

She tried to peel her itchiness away from her body. But between the mittens, sleeper, and harness, she couldn't even manage to shift it.

The helplessness only added to her discomfort, causing her to squirm. As she did, the straps of the harness dug into the padding, squishing it uncomfortably against her in a vicious cycle of self-torment.

The suffering continued for several minutes until she remembered the baby monitor. Lizzie hesitated, contemplating which discomfort was worse — the wetness between her legs or the humiliation of calling for her mother like a little baby. It was only when she felt a new urge to go that she finally relented.

Fortunately, Jennifer came quickly after just one call. Not so fortunately, she insisted that she change her. And Lizzie could only cover her eyes as she lay on the bed.

The process was quick and efficient. Her harness and sleeper were released, and the old diaper was removed. Her bottom was gently wiped, and a new diaper was taped into place.

The pajamas soon went back on, and to her surprise, the harness as well. Lizzie complained about the latter, only for it to fall on deaf ears.

Part of her wanted to scream, to demand to be released, but her mind was scattered, still contemplating her thoughts from last night.

Breakfast was a silent ordeal. She ate slowly, still coming to terms with her new situation. Her mom seemed to be in a similar boat, sitting quietly, only glancing over every so often.

She fidgeted with her food, wondering if she should say something. But in the end, they both kept to themselves.

After eating, she was sent back to her room, only to find another surprise waiting for her. Her desk chair had been replaced with one from the dining table, and Jennifer motioned for her to sit.

She felt a tug on her harness, and the first click soon gave away what was happening. When her mom stepped back, Lizzie leaned forward, the harness jerked her back, confirming her suspicions.

"I emailed your teachers for your homework assignments, and printed them out here." Jennifer laid down several sheets of paper. "Aside from your History project, I expect these to all be done by the end of the day. I'll be cooking lunch, but call through the monitor if you need anything."

Without waiting for a response, she left.

At first, Lizzie folded her arms, refusing to do work. Her mom could force her to sit here, but she couldn't make her do anything.

Yet as she watched the seconds tick away on her clock, the boredom soon began driving her insane.

She began doodling in her notebook, still silently protesting her punishment, only to find herself doing her homework a little while later, unsure when she'd even transitioned over.

With a sigh, she decided to just focus and get it over with, she'd have to do it sooner or later anyway.

The work turned out to be a much-needed distraction. In fact, it was only when she wrapped up her Math assignment and attempted to stand up to stretch that she was reminded her of her predicament.

Her mind urged her body to get up. But as she squirmed, the straps seemed to viciously tighten their grip around her body, causing a soft yelp to escape her lips.

For a moment, Lizzie thought perhaps she could release it like her car harness. But upon inspection, the tethers didn't clip onto the four corners, rather they looped through, just like the ones on her bed.

As expected, the securement points were located behind the chair, safely out of reach.

Despite this, Lizzie reached her arm behind her, grasping. She wasn't genuinely trying to escape, but she did it anyway.

As she struggled, she noticed the shoulder tethers sliding against the top of the chair. Lizzie shifted, perhaps she could slide them off the edge. But to her dismay, the chair had studs on the corners, and with the straps pulled taut, she couldn't slide them over.

Lizzie let out a sigh as she wiggled, feeling the minimal movement the harness allowed her before returning to work.

She breezed through her final few assignments. By the time she was done, the smell of her mom's cooking was only just starting to drift into her room.

Boredom soon returned, but Lizzie knew better than to bother her mom, unless she wanted to get more work.

If only she had her phone. If only she could talk to Madison and vent about everything.

Just six more days.

It wasn't even the restraints that bothered her the most. It was the absolute boredom.

Sleepiness soon began creeping in, and Lizzie looked at her bed with envy. It was only a mere step or two away, yet completely out of reach. In fact, with the tight straps, she couldn't even lean forward and rest her head on her desk. Instead, she was forced to sit there, twiddling her thumbs. Even her trusty chess set was far out of reach.

As she began doodling again, an unsettling pressure began growing in her stomach.

"Uh oh," she whispered aloud as she began squirming in her seat.

What started as a nub in her stomach quickly intensified, leaving her tugging at the straps.

She once again reached behind her, this time in a genuine effort. She tried to undo the zipper of the harness, but it had once again been locked, and with her back pressed against the chair, it was beyond futile.

Only as the pressure mounted to her breaking point did she remember the baby monitor. "Mom, quick, I need to pee!"

"I'm almost done lunch, I'll be up in five minutes," her mom's voice came back through the monitor.

"But I need to go now!"

"Then go in your diaper."

"But!"

"I don't see the problem. You have a diaper. Hold it in for five minutes or use it."

The words came with such a tone of indifference that tears immediately began to form in her eyes.

Now it was clear. Her mom hadn't forgotten their agreement, it was her punishment, meant to humiliate her.

The sheer audacity! Lizzie opened her mouth to yell, but a sharp pang ran through her, causing her to gasp instead.

"Ugh!" she slammed the table out of frustration as she gripped her fists tight. Her nails dug into her palms, as she tried to use pain to distract herself.

But it wasn't enough, and despite her best efforts, Lizzie soon felt the warm sensation of defeat spreading out from underneath her.

She wrapped her hands around herself as she shut her eyes, powerless to stop the stream.

It was only when the final drops trickled out of her that the door swung open, adding insult to injury.

The room was silent as she was unbuckled, but Lizzie caught a glance of herself in the mirror. Even with the pajamas, her filled diaper now bulged around her, a badge of shame.

She turned away, not wanting to see the face she knew was glowing red.

"I see you…" Jennifer started, but stopped. "Let's get you changed."

The change went by quickly, and this time Lizzie didn't even blink when the sleeper and harness went back on. In fact, she half-expected to be strapped down to a chair for lunch, but whether it was because her mom didn't feel the need to or felt too lazy to do so, she got to eat without being tied down.

Not that sitting at the dining table in the middle of the day stuck in a blue footed sleeper and a tight harness felt any better.

At least the food looked delicious. Her mom had made Mexican rice bowls with beans, cheese, veggies, and chopped up steak. Salsa, avocado, and a healthy dose of sour cream completed the bowl.

Jennifer had even made tortillas from scratch, and all together it smelled wonderful.

Despite all of the events of the day, Lizzie's stomach growled. She dug in, in part because she was starving, and in part so she didn't have to talk. Her mom seemed to have the same idea, and so the two once again ate in silence.

It was only when Lizzie got up to clear her plate that her mom spoke. "After you're done, we're going to grab a few groceries."

"Do I have to go?"

"I can't leave you at home alone, so yes."

"Can I change at least?" Lizzie asked, pointing to herself.

"It's cold, so you can put something over your sleeper, but you'll still be wearing the harness."

Lizzie sighed, not that it was at all unexpected.

The two soon rode out, with Lizzie strapped to her seat, wearing a blue raincoat and jeans between her pajama and harness. Unfortunately the clothes did little to reduce the feeling of the straps, and she shifted for most of the ride to the grocery store, her diaper squishing underneath her as she did so. The weather was about as gloomy as her mood, with the grey skies looking ready to burst open at any moment.

"Can I unbuckle myself?" Lizzie asked as the car was shifted to park.

"Sure." Her mom got off the car and moved over to her door.

Lizzie undid the tethers, but with the zipper lock still engaged, she realized she needed help.

She turned, holding in a sigh as her mom approached the door. She tapped her foot quietly as her mom seemed to struggle behind her.

She rolled her eyes. If it's so difficult to unzip maybe you shouldn't have locked it.

"Okay, let's go."

"Huh?" Lizzie frowned, her harness was still tightly fastened around her.

Perhaps her mom expected her to take it off herself? But reaching behind, she found the zipper still locked.

There was a tug from behind her. She turned around, only to find her mom holding a strap in her hand.

"What?" was all she could say as her eyes traced the line from her mom's hand to where it disappeared behind her back.

"I said you'd be wearing your harness for the duration of your punishment. That includes at the store. Was I not clear?"

Lizzie blinked. "You can't be serious."

"You brought this upon yourself. Frankly, we're tired of you disrespecting our rules and causing a mess. You want to go about acting like a child? Fine. Your father and I will just start treating you accordingly — until you prove to us otherwise."

"I can't go inside like this! What if someone I know sees me?"

"Do you want to stay on the car instead?"

"Yes!" Lizzie almost shouted.

"Fine by me. I'm going to strap you back in and I better not come back and see that you've unstrapped yourself. Or I can put the wrist restraints on now if you don't think you can resist the temptation."

"I. Won't." Lizzie said through clenched teeth. She dragged her butt back onto her seat, shutting her eyes as she let her mom strap her in before leaving.

Her thoughts stirred as she sat there, eyes welded shut. "You brought this upon yourself."

Her eyes flared open as a yell escaped from within her. She shook, jerking against the tethers pinning her to her seat. Nails dug into strap and skin, tearing at it all as she continued screaming in sheer frustration.

"You want to go about acting like a child?"

A child. It all made sense now. The harness, pajamas, and the diaper. And now a baby leash! This was all too much. She couldn't live like this.

"I AM NOT A BABY!" She jerked again, feeling the entire car shift.

"disrespecting our rules and causing a mess."

She laughed. A manic hysteria that filled the car.

"FUCK THIS!"

She kicked the seat in front of her and punched the door.

The pain in her fist was immediate and her eyes grew wet with tears.

Maybe they're right. I am losing control.

She leaned forward, the straps of her harness dug into her skin, as she buried her face in her hands.

"we're tired of you…"

Her mom had finally said what she'd known all along. She'd seen it in Grant and Jenny's eyes when dealing with Lucas. All of the extra precautions, the constant state of worry, and the tiredness in their eyes.

Her thoughts flew back to the call, her mom's quiet sobbing as her dad tried to comfort her.

Yes, she had fucked up, several times in fact. But why were they allowed to treat her like this? As her parents, weren't they supposed to love her, care for her, and be on her side no matter what?

Now it was clear. In their eyes, she was just a problem, to be dealt with by diapers, sleepers, and harnesses, regardless of how they made her feel.

She was a nuisance. A bedwetter. A baby.

Lizzie shut her eyes, and suddenly a vision flooded into view.

Their family was on a roadtrip, with her sitting in the back, strapped tightly in a car seat, wearing a warm sleeper over her bulging diaper as her other cousins sat freely in the middle rows. Her, sucking on a pacifier while Charlotte looked back with a smirk.

She could see Madison and the others, about to head off on a trip to Europe, waving goodbye to their families as she watched from her room, trapped inside a giant crib.

This was her future.

"until you prove to us otherwise."

I am not a baby!

Her eyes fluttered open. She clenched her fists as a plan formulated in her mind.

She was done with the diapers, the rules, the restrictions. Despite what they believed, she wasn't a helpless baby to be suffocated under their watchful eyes.

She was independent. And she was going to prove it.

***

"Good night, Lizzie," her mom said as she finished tucking her in.

When she refused to respond, her mom leaned in. "I know this may be difficult to believe, but we love you."

The words fell on deaf ears, as Lizzie simply continued staring at the ceiling. Her mom kissed her on the forehead, an icy stamp that only steeled her resolve.

Outside, the rains pounded against the window, but she was unfazed.

The waiting was the hardest part. Her mom still hadn't realized the baby monitor was on both ways, and before showering, she'd secretly snuck into her room and adjusted the volume. Now, she could easily hear everything in her mom's room, while her mom wouldn't hear much from hers.

And so now she lay here, twiddling her thumbs within their mittens as she waited for her mom to get ready for bed.

A million thoughts were running through her head.

What if she got caught? What if she didn't make it? What if—

No. Her mittened hand fell onto her diaper.

This was the only way to prove herself. The only way to escape the suffocation.

When the breathing in the monitor finally slowed, she set her plan into motion.

Her hands dug underneath her pillowcase, pulling out the scissors she'd snuck there earlier.

With two snips, the ribbons on her mittens fell off. Then, as quietly as possible, she began snipping away at the harness. A task that proved quite tricky with the thick material, but after a few minutes, the straps fell apart from around her.

She turned the monitor off before returning her attention to her sleeper.

Oh, how glorious it felt as the scissors teared through the red fabric. She almost laughed as she stripped, stepping out of her warm prison before kicking the remains off to the side.

Her eyes caught onto the Rosalina sleeper sitting on her dresser, and she felt the urge to cut that one up as well, just for fun.

Lizzie quickly shook her head. She needed to focus. Her diaper was next, the tapes were quietly peeled and the white bundle was tossed into the trash where it belonged.

The air brushed against her bare skin, and she took a long breath, embracing the light chill of freedom.

Next, she quietly changed into the set of clothes she'd hidden underneath her bed and donned her small backpack. It had been difficult to prepare everything on such short notice, but she had her keys, wallet, clothes, water, snacks, and even her old earthquake kit from elementary school.

After double-checking everything, she quietly crept down the stairs, where she grabbed her phone and a pair of runners before sneaking out the back door.

Outside, the winds howled as the rain pelted her skin. Shielding the water from her eyes, she took a deep breath.

This was her only choice.

Having them watch over her day in and day out — a life where she had no freedoms — she couldn't live like that.

She wouldn't live like that.

Biting her lip, she shut the door behind her and locked it. She gripped the key in her palm, its teeth poking into her skin, the pain reminding her that this wasn't a dream.

There would be no turning back.

She snuck around the house and to the front, where she took one last look at the place she'd called home.

"until you prove to us otherwise."

"Well, take this as proof," Lizzie spat.

She was not a baby. She was not some feisty bedwetter that needed their entire life planned out for them.

She was an adult that could take care of herself. And she was going to prove it. She had to.

The raindrops splattered against her jacket. She held her head up, closing her eyes, letting the water hit her face, letting the cold run down her sides, and in that moment, she felt her fears and worries wash away.

Lizzie opened her eyes. Despite the freezing cold, her body seared with newfound resolve. And with a pivot, she turned her back on everything she knew.

And she began to run.

She ran down the street, the wind and rain biting at her cheeks.

She kept running, listening to the rhythmic beat of her shoes splashing against the puddles beneath her. Despite her jacket and waterproof pants, everything was soon soaked, but Lizzie didn't care. All of her attention focused on putting one foot ahead of the other.

Which way are you going? What about shelter? How are you going to afford anything once your savings run out?

The questions began flooding her mind despite her best efforts. They piled on, each one a new weight on her chest, slowly forcing the air out of her lungs.

Suddenly there was a flash of light, followed by a boom that shook the world around her.

Lizzie ducked under an overhang. Clutching herself as her heart raced, her breaths short. Hot tears began to stream down her frozen cheeks.

A part of her mind screamed at her to go back. That it wasn't too late to return home and beg her mom for forgiveness.

NO! A louder voice yelled right back. Flashing images of her future at home, safely padded and secured, her parents coddling her, treating her as nothing more than a bedwetting baby for the rest of eternity.

No she couldn't go back. She was going to survive on her own and prove them wrong. No matter what.

And so, grabbing all of her worries and fears, Lizzie compacted them tightly together within her chest.

She wailed, releasing everything out into the night, her screams fading into the thunder and rain.

One foot ahead of the other.

Despite wiping her eyes, her vision continued to blur. Was it the rain? Was it her tears? She didn't know. She didn't care.

Pit pat, pit pat. Her entire being focused on the rhythm of her shoes against the pavement, its metronomic beat the only thing keeping her from collapsing.

She'd long since lost track of the time. Her phone had died ages ago. It didn't matter.

Just keep running.

All of a sudden, through her blurred vision, she saw the bridge appear in the distance. The path to the next city. The road that would let her prove herself.

Keep running, and you'll be free.

Pushing herself forward, one leg in front of the other, she bore on toward her beacon of hope. The single glimmer of light in the dark, stormy night.

Yet, the screaming in her lungs and burning in her legs continued to grow, each threatening to swallow her whole.

Keep running, and they'll never need to worry about you again.

The bridge slowly got bigger and bigger, until she found herself in front of it, then on it.

As she approached the peak, the city slowly crawled into view, its arms stretched into the distance, a welcoming invitation to her future. She would've smiled, had her lips not been frozen in place.

She powered on, wiping her eyes for the hundredth time.

Just a bit more. Keep running, and—

Her foot slipped out from underneath her.

For a moment, Lizzie felt herself soar through the air — weightless, free from all of her burdens, her agony, her suffering.

But that blissful moment came to an abrupt end as she came crashing down onto the pavement, skidding to a stop. Pain seared through her entire body.

Struggling, she pushed herself up. only to have her hand slip out from underneath her, causing her to slam back to the ground.

Through squinted eyes, she could see the city lights dancing in the distance. She stretched her arm out, desperate to keep her dreams within grasp, yet they simply slipped through her fingers, like fireflies into the night.

The lights soon blurred as the water stung her eyes, and Lizzie felt her hand drop as her vision faded to black.