Chapter 2

It’d been days since I woke from my accident as Vanessa’s baby. 

Why did this happen to me? And why the child of Vanessa, of all people? Is this punishment for something I did—or rather, didn’t do? 

I was laying on a play pad in my nursery as Vanessa watched me. What she thought was infant curiosity was my feeble attempt to crawl, or at the very least to lift my neck. 

After a few failed attempts, I slammed my cheek down on the mat in defeat. 

I couldn’t lift my head or even roll–I was fully dependent on Vanessa to return me onto my back.  I knew this body was just born, but I’d seen some energetic babies in my past life that could move way more than this...

More time passed, with little change in my motor skills. Wake up wet, get changed, drink milk, stare at the ceiling, tummy time, sleep and repeat. I felt bad for how many bottles she needed to wash each day, but I respected her too much to take milk from her breast with a clear conscience. 

Vanessa waited on me hand and foot, trimming my nails, brushing my hair, picking up my pacifier when I dropped it. 

But I could only communicate through wailing. 

And holy shit did I cry loudly when my body couldn’t process gas. And the poop, don’t get me started on the poop. Laying in a diaper of yellow mush until my next bottle, disgusting... 

***

Eventually, Vanessa’s maternity leave ended, so she had to go back to work. So, I was stuck with the man who was supposedly my father. Da–I mean, that man–was now my main caregiver. 

Seriously, what was his actual name again?

I didn’t like it one bit.

But over the next few days, I resigned myself to a life of staring at the ceiling, barely able to make out shadows and shapes, dreaming about my real (old?) life. 

In one dream, I was back to that fateful night when I chickened out and walked away. Even though I already knew what was going to happen, my body still turned, as if some unknown force was controlling me. I could hear everything as clear as day now, the shouts, the metal, glass that cut into me as I died there in the middle of the street. 

I felt death’s grip once more, and as my consciousness slipped, I woke up startled, crying and wailing. That man rolled over, still asleep. But Vanessa woke up to comfort me. 

She reached over the side of the bassinet and held my tiny hand to comfort me. 

“Oh my poor baby, you must have had a nightmare,” she cooed. 

She started to gently rub my hand with her thumb, and the soothing motion calmed me. 

“You know, I got night terrors when I was a little older than you are now. My mom would always be there to comfort me, and now, I’ll always be there to comfort you.”

I knew she didn’t know it was me, but I was still glad to have her around.

The next day, we went for a drive. She said that we were about to go meet her dad, who was my grandpa now. 

This wasn’t how I expected meeting Vanessa’s father for the first time. 

The drive wasn’t that long, and Vanessa scooped me out of the carseat carrier, preferring to hold me herself as she walked toward the door. The house was bigger than I imagined, and was in a super nice part of the city. 

Wow, grandpa must be loaded. 

Once she rang the doorbell, we didn’t have to wait long for someone to answer it. But I wasn’t expecting who opened the door. 

It was Dennis. But looking much older. 

“Hey-ey…” Vanessa sing-songed, going in for a one-armed hug. 

Dennis chuckled, hugged her back, and welcomed us into the house. As we entered, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. 

I glared at him and he looked back, as if he knew it was me wondering what the hell he was doing there. 

Yes, I was happy to see him alive and well, but that didn’t explain why he was at Vanessa’s dad’s house. He walked through the home as if he’d been here countless times before.

Did they get closer after my death, or have they always been this close to Vanessa where he can stay here freely?

My thoughts were interrupted by Dennis leaning in to get a better look at me.

“Hey there, I see you’ve brought a straggler,” he teased. 

Vanessa playfully punched Dennis’s shoulder, “Be nice to your grandchild.”

Grandchild?!

Dennis is my grandpa? How is that even possible?!

Dennis held his arms out toward me. “May I?”

Vanessa nodded and passed me over to him. He looked me over while lifting me slightly higher to get a better look at me.

“Hey there, little guy,” he said. 

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Say hi to your grandpa, Lee,” Vanessa chimed in. 

I threw up milk curds all over Dennis. 

I couldn’t take the shock anymore. At least he didn't look upset with me, as he mourned his shirt and handed me back to Vanessa. 

Once cleaned up, we relaxed in the living room. Once I got over the fact that Dennis was living at this really nice house and was somehow my grandpa, I was really happy to see him. When Vanessa sat me down, I started to inch towards him. 

It took me a few minutes—I had to try, rest, try again, rest...

Vanessa broke the peaceful silence, “My dad called…”

“Did you answer?”

Vanessa shook her head sadly. “I let it go to voicemail. He heard about Lee’s birth from some old friends in my hometown.”

So, I do have an actual grandpa, but… from the sound of things, those two don’t seem to get along for some reason. 

I looked back at Dennis, who appeared a bit annoyed at the news. “Did those so-called friends know about your relationship with your dad before they started yapping their gums?”

“No. They weren’t close friends, either. Just people I’ve kept in touch with through social media. Vanessa took a deep breath and added, “He wants to be in my life again.”

Dennis sat in silence for a moment. “How do you feel about it?” he asked. I’d known Dennis for a long time, and although he was asking in a very understanding way, I could tell from his face that he wasn’t too fond of this guy.

Vanessa looked at Dennis, resolute. “I feel like keeping him as far away from me as possible. After mom died, he showed me who he truly was inside, and I don’t plan to have my family anywhere near that.”

Dennis sighed, and looked down at me. “Well... your kid will understand, someday, why you chose not to have his grandfather in your lives.”

She nodded. “I’ll be prepared to explain all my reasons why, when that day comes.”

Her expression finally relaxed as she smiled at Dennis. “Thanks for being there for me. Things could have ended differently if you hadn’t been there. You’ve truly become the father that I’ve always wanted.”

Dennis returned her smile. “You’re the child that I’ve never had. Thanks for making me a pop-pop!”

Meanwhile, I was sitting in the middle of the living room, watching the whole exchange while sucking on my fingers. After hearing that conversation, many things were starting to click.

Okay, I get what’s happening now. I still wonder what my actual grandpa is like. But I’ll take their word for it and keep my distance from the man.

As I inspected Dennis further, I’d come to realize that years must have passed before my rebirth. There were clear signs of aging on Dennis’s face. 

I wished I could somehow tell him who I really was.

With that in mind, I decided to give it a shot and roll over to Dennis, grabbing his shirt. He noticed and looked down at me. As I looked him in the eye, I opened my mouth to try to speak to him. 

Dennis, the universe is playing a cruel joke on me by reincarnating me as Vanessa’s baby!

But it was no use. 

What I wished would be sensible words turned into nonsensical baby talk and gestures that the adults in the room thought were adorable. The moment Dennis got closer to stroke my cheek, I gave up. 

Now, I had a new goal: Operation Communicate With Dennis so I could reveal my identity to him was my top priority!

My face must have become quite serious as I assessed my plans for communicating, because Dennis leaned over towards me in confusion. 

“Hey, Vanessa, does he always look this serious?”

She shrugged.

“We often catch him in deep thought.”

Dennis looked intrigued, and leaned even closer towards me as if he wanted to see into my mind. “I wonder what he’s thinking so hard about.”

***

I fell asleep during the car ride back, but I could feel myself being lifted and carried into the house and into bed. Vanessa snuggled right next to me and, before long, that “Dad” guy was laying on the other side.

Once they slept peacefully for some time, I opened one eye to make sure that they were asleep before practicing to sit up. But my body only twitched and strained for the most part, and I worked up a good sweat. 

At this rate, it’ll be months before I can move my body with ease.

No! Unacceptable! I’ll be in full motion by the end of the week. I’ll be a Super Baby!

I practiced whenever I could, even at the breakfast table from my high chair, while That Dad Guy sat on the other side with a newspaper, clearly reading the sports section. 

I was practicing lifting my arms when I caught him peering at me over the newspaper. “Interesting…” He said to himself, softly. Then he resumed reading his paper.

Later on, I sat in the basement with Vanessa as she did her yoga. As I was practicing sitting up on my playmat, I failed to notice Vanessa’s stare.

She looked at me with concern as she hummed to herself, but nonetheless continued with her yoga session.

That evening in the living room, I practiced moving my body as much as possible as my parents watched. They looked at each other, then at me, then back towards one another. 

“This must be his new thing,” she mused out loud. 

That dad guy scratched his chin in wonder. “Maybe he needs to poop?”

Offended by the statement, I stopped my exercises and turned towards them.

I don’t need to poop! I’m just focused! That’s all!

But they didn’t get the message, as they whisked me away into the nursery. I braced myself for another awkward diaper change as Vanessa unzipped my sleeper. I lay there in confusion as she opened a box that read "Windi” on it. She pulled out a four-inch tube with a tiny nozzle attached to it. 

What is she doing? What is that thing?

She grabbed my legs and held them together with one hand as she brought the tube dangerously close to my butt.

What the hell? Don’t tell me, she’s going to–

My piercing wail echoed throughout the entire house. 

After the Windi incident, I sat in the living room with my parents, embarrassed as they continued to watch me with a mix of concern and confusion. 

“I guess he wasn’t constipated,” Vanessa said, clearly at a loss. 

“Yeah…” agreed that Dad schmuck.

I may have retained all of my memories from my past life, but what was left of old thoughts and wishes were clearly not translating well in this new body. 

I guess my super-baby plan was dead on arrival. I had no choice but to let nature run its course.

***

At four months I grew my first tooth. 

At five months I could roll from my back to my tummy, and then back again.

Crawling came at six months. 

When I was eight months old, I could pull myself up to stand and began feeding myself.

By the time I turned one, I was walking without assistance. 

***

I was very proud of myself when I started to walk without either of my parents’ help. I felt like the superhero that we were watching on TV. But there was still one thing I couldn't quite master, no matter how hard I tried: talking.

I still can't voice a single word. Gesturing and pointing suffices for basic needs, but that won't get me far when trying to tell Dennis who I am.

"Ma” is fine. I can technically say "dada,” but I refuse to give That Man that satisfaction.

I was quickly pulled from my thoughts by the sound of my parents kissing. The sight disgusted me so much that I started crying from my corner of the couch. But Vanessa promptly came to my rescue, ending the makeout session.

***

Several nights later, I was playing in my baby gym as Vanessa entered the room. I stopped kicking a hanging elephant and took in her appearance. She was wearing a long dress that hugged her body and showed off her curves, along with matching jewelry and a bejeweled clutch. 

She looked amazing. But "dad” quickly ruined the moment by walking in and putting his arm around her waist.

Ugh, has this man learned nothing?!

I started to cry, but the doorbell rang. Vanessa walked over to answer it, revealing Dennis at the door. As Dennis walked in, Vanessa looked back at me with an excited smile.

“Look who's come to babysit you tonight. It’s your Pop-Pop Dennis.”

Vanessa handed me over to Dennis while she and Dad made a quick getaway for the night. Dennis smiled at me and brought me over to sit on his lap.

***

As he scoured the TV for a movie to watch, he noticed my grumpy expression. 

“Aw, what’s wrong, little guy? Your mommy and daddy need some alone time.”

Dennis finally found something interesting and pressed play.

“While they’re out, you and I will watch movies and play games. How does that sound?”

I couldn’t help but smile at him and made a loud squealing sound to show him how enthusiastic I was about it. He smiled back at me.

Dennis dimmed the lights and grabbed some snacks before placing me back on his lap.

Just like old times. Minus being on his lap, of course.

I was caught between watching the movie and watching Dennis's excitement when suddenly, he got a little sad and said, “I was going to show this movie to a friend of mine... but he passed away before I could.”

Seeing Dennis’s sorrowful expression lit a fire in me, and before I knew it, I was crawling up his shirt. I grabbed him by the collar, looked him straight in eye, and said as clearly as any one-year-old baby could– 

“Wwwweess…”

Dennis drew back in shock, not believing what he had just heard. 

Sitting up straighter, Dennis held me up and stared at me for a long time. 

“That can’t be…” He said in total disbelief. 

Before he could logic it away, I said it again.

“Me. W-Wweesss.”

He couldn’t deny it any longer, not after hearing it twice from the baby he was just babysitting on the couch. Then, Dennis did something that I wasn’t expecting. 

He hugged me. 

I sat there in his arms, just enjoying the moment when my best friend finally recognized me, growing misty-eyed from holding back tears.

Eventually he released me from his embrace to look at me again. “Now, I don’t know what you got yourself into. But...”

He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence when Vanessa and that goof walked back through the front door, clearly intoxicated. “We’re home...!” Vanessa called. 

As my parents came closer, my “dad” plopped down face-first onto the nearest couch, and we soon heard snoring.

Vanessa giggled. “Don’t mind my little Tequlia slut.”

I rolled my eyes as I stared at the drunkard who had long gone to the land of dreams. 

How can he be such a lightweight? Seriously, what does she see in him?

Vanessa seemed to notice my mood changing and came over to me with a bright smile, “Aw, baby, what’s wrong?”

As Dennis handed me over to Vanessa, he whispered in my ear first-- “You and I both know that nothing good will come from this situation...”

         TO BE CONTINUED IN