*Daddy's Little Angel*
---
Lena always felt like a stranger in her own skin. The world was too loud, too fast, and too unforgiving. But she had a secret—a way to escape when things became too much. She would retreat into a mindset where she was safe, where she was a little girl again, surrounded by stuffed animals, coloring books, and the comforting haze of innocence. In these moments, she was free from the burdens of growing up, from the expectations and anxieties that haunted her daily life.
She kept this side of herself hidden from most people, only indulging in her regressive behavior when she was alone. It wasn’t something she wanted others to see or understand. But her stepfather, Robert, had always been overly attentive, watching her with a keen eye ever since he married her mother a few years back.
At first, Robert's concern seemed normal. He was protective, always checking in on her, making sure she was eating, sleeping, and generally taking care of herself. But as time went on, his attention became more intense, more intrusive. He began to notice the small things—how she cuddled her stuffed bear a little too tightly, how she lingered in the toy aisle at the store, or how her voice would sometimes slip into a higher pitch when she was stressed.
One evening, when her mother was out late for work, Lena was in her room, fully immersed in her little space. She was lying on the floor, coloring in her favorite book, surrounded by a fortress of plush toys. She didn’t hear Robert approach until it was too late. The door creaked open, and she looked up, startled, as he stepped inside.
“What’s this, Lena?” Robert asked, his voice soft but with an undertone that sent chills down her spine.
Lena froze, her crayon hovering above the page. “Just... just coloring,” she stammered, trying to downplay the situation. She wasn’t ready to explain this part of herself to anyone, especially not to him.
But Robert didn’t seem upset. Instead, he knelt beside her, picking up one of the stuffed animals—a worn-out bunny with floppy ears—and smiled. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You don’t have to hide this from me.”
Lena’s heart raced. “It’s nothing, really. I just... I like to relax this way.”
Robert’s smile grew wider, and there was something unsettling in his eyes. “I think it’s adorable. You’re just a little girl at heart, aren’t you? And every little girl needs her daddy to take care of her.”
Lena shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not really... I mean, I’m still me.”
But Robert wasn’t listening. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he murmured, stroking her hair. “Daddy’s here now. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
From that night on, everything changed. Robert took her regression as a sign that she needed him more than ever. He began treating her like a child in every aspect of her life. He would tuck her in at night, read her bedtime stories, and even started buying her children’s toys and clothes. He insisted on being called “Daddy” and would get upset if she didn’t comply.
Lena tried to resist at first, but Robert’s reactions were unpredictable. When she pushed back, he would get angry—his eyes dark and stormy, his grip on her arm tightening. He’d remind her that he was the only one who understood her, who loved her enough to care for her the way she needed. His love was suffocating, wrapping around her like a thick, unyielding fog.
Her mother noticed the changes, but Robert always had an explanation ready. He claimed that Lena was going through a phase, that she was struggling with stress, and that he was helping her cope. Her mother, always busy with work and relieved that someone else was taking care of Lena, accepted his lies without question.
