Our little secret

Waiting

Dr.js perspective

I came to see him near enough everyday. Monitoring his progress. The vacuum inside counter balanced the earths gravitational pull, making Tom be able to float perfectly in the middle. It was like he was in a thin like egg as I could just see the outlines of his body huddled together. The umbilical cord more visible to see as it was almost touching the artificial wombs surface. I also could see the dark black hair coming deep within side the womb. We keep him in a constant 3F sedated state, enough to keep him calm and relaxed but not enough to do damage to his brain. He must have a conscious thought on what's going on. That we've basically forced him back into a fetal state. I have to keep reassuring myself this the best thing for him as he wasn't developing or putting on weight on. This would give him a better chance of actually developing into proper manhood.

I was looking over his files and looking at the blood tests, brain scans, physical, pathological and psychological viewings. No doctor could confirm what specifically was wrong. But some areas of the brain had the emotional and physical capacity if he were a toddler. The other areas of the brain suiting his 23 year old self with learning, logical thought and speech. The hormones were waving a constant in between male tanner stage 1 to almost 3 but no further then that. Hence his small structure. For a 23 year old we are expect almost full maturity at the end stages of tanner stage 5 in development but that was no where in site. So over all he had the conscious and mental state mostly of a 23 year old, immature at that. But the emotional and physical control of a toddler explaining why he was so emotional, cried easy, tantrums and excretion issues. Some doctors and theorised that it could be due to neglect as through bone analysis there has been obvious stunts in growth and the stress could of effected the brain development. From what I gather from toms childhood was his father mostly locked him inside his room and didn't teach him the core development stages. He was mostly diapered and strapped into a crib as a child, only to be moved for changing from his sister with occasional food. He eventually got to watch children's tv and learnt how to speak that way. Then as a teen was thrown out, into the real world suddenly into a world of danger where he got bullied a lot for being childlike. Mentally he had to grow up very quickly to protect himself. I stopped and thought for a moment. It's sad someone could be treated like that. That he went through all that to the point it's effected him so physically.

I brought Charley (my wife) to come visit. At first She was shocked with the vast equipment. She had only been to a few areas of the hospital, she had never been to the laboratory. I had briefed her previously on my contributions towards the parturition contrivance but I never told her we had began testing it on a human or that it was even possible or it was on Tom that I spoke so fondly off. She believed it was unethical regardless of what the ethics board said. We argued over it several times. This is the reason why I loved her, she was never afraid to tell me I'm wrong or to be herself. She had strong morals. She was my rock. After a few weeks of arguing and visiting she eventually came round to idea, even joining in monitoring toms stats. She had previously studied medicine but followed a career in the practical work of neuroscience instead of the research side. She suggested I bring in a speaker and play it against the parturition contrivance to see if I got a reaction from Tom inside, as some babies do react to music. To my suprisement Each time I played him classical, I would watch his little hands stretch and slightly push at the sides. I couldn't tell if this meant he enjoyed it or whether he wanted to be out of there. Either way I thought it would be nice for him to hear something different. Charley recorded herself singing a lullaby, each time I saw his vitals were not right I played him the lullaby. It amazed me to watch them settle after I played him her voice.

I wanted Tom but the hospital wanted to take him to another laboratory for more testing. It was a constant fight. His rights had been handed over to us by his family who were easily brought after learning the idea of selling him off would earn them a lot of money. Honestly when I watched his dad and brother sign the paper I could of punched them. They did not give one shit about Tom. His sister and other brother wanted him to come to me, so they knew he was safe. Everyone with a heart wanted that. But I'm reality Until the end of the current experiment, I'll not know if he will be mine or the hospitals. It made me nervous, it made me think bad thoughts. Controversially I didn't want him to get better, as if he did they would probe him for the rest of his life. But would he ever be happy if he did never develop past the point he is now. For him it was a lose lose situation the moment his rights were signed away. I knew what he needed, regardless of the results he needed love and support. Not more pain and suffering. The only issue I would have if I managed to get Tom is Charley and my 4 house mates. Bert, jackson, sian and suki. We're a polyamorous family but we've strictly said we don't want children around. Even though Tom isn't a child, he would sure be like a child.....for a while? Maybe?
I shook my head. I don't need to think of that, nothing is for certain. I'll cross that bridge when I need to.
But I did think, I thought a lot about having him. For him to be in a household full of love. We had the space. There was so many things.... But there was still at least 6 months to go anything could happen till then...like him coming back. Would he breathe again we the umbilical cord is cut. Would he have brain damage from being in the parturition contrivance or Would he die in the process.... I tried pushing those ideas away, I don't want to know but I knew the probability of that happening wasn't low...