Regression Park

Regression Island, huh?  I booked my ticket without thinking twice.  The brochure had insisted it would relieve my anxiety, and my therapist told me if I didn't start relaxing I would have a breakdown.  Working at a Fortune 500 company at age 20 was so stressful.  Seven days vacation.  How bad could it be?

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It wasn't quite one flight - two flights with connections, then another flight in one of those planes with the water floats, and then a drive up a long winding hill to the crest of the island - all things considered, it had taken Jessie twenty nine hours to get here, and she seemed definitely far from relaxed by the time they arrived. But when the car door was opened for her, when she was told her suitcases would arrive after her, and the smell of the sea air and cupcakes washed over her... well, it was hard to care. A woman greeted her. "Jessie, welcome to Regression Park. Come with me, I'll show you to your room."

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The resort was gorgeous, but I was running on less than two hours of sleep.  Flights always made me anxious.  I followed the woman through the entrance into the building.  Soft music played over the speakers.  Lulling sounds.  I wanted to admire the ocean in the distance, or the beautiful architecture of the tropical resort, but it was the smell that caught my attention.  It just smelled... so... lovely. "I don't have a schedule or anything, right?  I just... really need a nap or something." I rubbed my eyes.

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"Oh you definitely do, Jessica. You really do need a nap, and you need to wear your proper napping attire for that, that makes sense to you, doesn't it?" Obviously she was exhausted, and the idea did sound oddly and surprisingly appealing. Proper napping attire. Obviously she needed that.

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The woman led me to the bed.  My head rested on a pillow and I closed my eyes.  The music was wonderful.  Sounds of the ocean, maybe.  The smell was intoxicating... vanilla, or... or sugar?  But with a hint of baby powder.  And before I knew it, I'd fallen asleep.

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The little thing woke up hours later, maybe days, time meant so little here in this magical place. Her swimming diaper had just been changed into something more suited to dry land, and her hair felt salty, but the fresh diaper and the matching dress felt so lovely. Had she been swimming in the ocean? Thoughts came so difficulty to her, but acceptance was easy as pie. She got up and chased one of her friends through the sand, tiring herself out throughout the afternoon before finally collapsing on a bench, legs spread. "You just need to write your name on these forms, Jessica, and then you can stay forever, won't that be fun?" The matron put the pencil in her hand and held the clipboard for the giggly girl. She'd stay a while.