Chapter 13 - Bathing Vera

After Emma finished cleaning and washing the mattress, she decided not to cover it with a sheet because the bed was still not dry. She opened the window to let sunlight into the room to help dry the bed. However, since it was already evening, the sunlight wasn't very helpful.Shortly after, Elio came in carrying adult diapers and went straight to the bedroom. "Emma, I've bought the diapers. But I'm not sure if the size is right."Emma welcomed him with relief. "That's okay, Mr. Elio. Oh, by the way, I think Mrs. Vera needs a bath. Her body still smells of urine from wetting the bed earlier."Elio seemed reluctant to hear that request. "Are you going to bathe her, Emma? Oh no, I can't bear to see my wife treated like this. It's hard to see her being treated like a baby. I feel like her amnesia has degraded her dignity."Emma responded gently, "Sir, this is for Mrs. Vera's well-being. Mrs. Vera's body still smells of urine. If you feel embarrassed to bathe her, should I be the one to do it?"Elio nodded slowly, finally agreeing. "Oh, alright, Emma. You can do it. Please bathe her quickly. This smell is really unpleasant.""Okay, Sir." Emma then began to carefully undress Vera, so she was completely naked.Elio felt a pang of sadness at the sight, but still allowed Emma to proceed. "Goodness, Vera. I feel like I'm seeing you being degraded by this damned amnesia."Emma then lifted and carried Vera like a baby, then took her to the bathroom inside the room.In the bathroom, Emma had already prepared warm water in the bathtub. With great care, she placed Vera in the tub, making sure the water was warm enough but not too hot."Let's bathe first, Mrs. Vera... So you'll be clean... so you'll smell nice..." Emma said, trying to communicate with her as if talking to a baby, while wiping Vera's body with liquid soap and a soft cloth soaked in warm water.Vera only made small sounds, like a baby enjoying bath time. Emma cleaned every part of Vera's body carefully, making sure there were no lingering smells of urine."Mr. Elio, could you please pass me the soap?" Emma asked, looking at Elio who was standing near the bathroom door.Elio, standing at the bathroom door, handed the bar of soap to Emma. "Is there anything else I can do to help, Emma?"Emma smiled as she lathered Vera's body with soap. "No, thank you, Sir. That's all for now. Turns out bathing Mrs. Vera isn't so difficult."After finishing bathing Vera, Emma wrapped her body in a soft towel and carried her back to the room. Elio helped Emma lay Vera on the carpet with pillows, waiting for the bed to dry.Emma gently dried Vera's body with a soft towel after bathing her."Now, Mrs. Vera is clean... she smells nice..." Emma said, trying to communicate with her as if talking to a baby.After making sure Vera's body was completely dry, Emma prepared the adult diapers and the clothes that had been prepared.First, Emma opened the adult diaper and carefully lifted Vera's hips to put it on."Come on, dear Mrs. Vera, let's put on the diaper first, okay."She said softly. She made sure the diaper was fitted properly and comfortably before moving on to the next step.Emma then took the soft pastel-colored T-shirt. She unbuttoned the shirt and carefully lifted Vera's arms, one by one, sliding them into the sleeves."Mrs. Vera, let's wear a clean and soft shirt, okay?" She said with a smile, although Vera didn't show any reaction.Elio, standing in the corner of the room, watched with mixed feelings. Seeing his wife being treated like a baby broke his heart, but he knew this was best for Vera at the moment.He watched Emma meticulously put Vera's head through the shirt hole, then carefully buttoning each button, like a mother dressing her baby.***Nighttime came, and it was time to sleep. Elio entered his room and saw his wife, Vera, lying on the bed. He was surprised to see Vera swaddled like a baby, her face innocent and peaceful, sleeping soundly like a tired baby.Elio approached the bed and called for Emma, who was tidying up the room. "Emma...!! Emma..!!"Emma arrived and entered the room. "What's wrong, Sir?""Why is Vera swaddled like a baby?" Elio asked, seemingly upset to see his wife treated like that.Emma turned and approached Elio. "I'm sorry, Mr. Elio. I intentionally swaddled Mrs. Vera after feeding her porridge for dinner."Elio furrowed his brow, still confused. "But why swaddle her? She's my wife, not a baby."Emma explained gently, "Did you forget, Sir? Mrs. Vera now has the characteristics of a baby. Allowing her to move freely at night could make her uncomfortable or even endanger herself. Swaddling helps calm her and makes her feel safe, like a newborn baby."Elio looked pensive, trying to understand the situation. He paced around the bed, then stopped for a moment to observe Vera lying helpless. "I can't believe this. Vera... my wife... is like this now. I don't know what to do."Emma lowered her head for a moment before responding, "I understand, Sir. But this is for Mrs. Vera's well-being. Since the accident, we have to take care of her differently. Swaddling makes her feel safer and more comfortable at the moment."Elio nodded with a very mixed feeling, "Oh God, why is my family life like this?"Emma placed her hand on Elio's shoulder, providing warm support. "We'll get through this together, Mr. Elio. For Mrs. Vera."Elio took a deep breath and nodded, trying to force himself to accept the new reality in his life. "Yes, for Vera..!!"***In the middle of the night, when everyone was fast asleep, suddenly loud cries echoed in the room. "WAAAAHH...!!! WAAAAHH...!!"Vera cried out loudly, like a restless baby during sleep. Her cries woke up Elio, who was sleeping beside her, feeling disturbed and anxious."Vera, calm down. Please, sweetheart..." Elio tried to soothe Vera by gently stroking her face, but her cries only grew louder."Oh, Vera, my beautiful wife... calm down, darling. It's nighttime, it's time to sleep. I have to work early tomorrow." Elio tried to calm her down by attempting to communicate with her as if speaking to a baby. However, his efforts were in vain."WAAAAHH...!!! WAAAAHH...!!!" Vera continued to cry, making Elio more frustrated.Elio felt desperate and finally shouted for Emma, hoping for help to come soon. "Emma..!! Emma..!!"Shortly after, Emma arrived in the room, looking worried seeing Vera crying incessantly. "What's wrong, Mr. Elio? Why is Mrs. Vera crying?"Elio rubbed his tired face, "I don't know, Emma. I've tried to calm her down, but it's not working. I can't sleep, and I have to go to work early tomorrow morning.""WAAAAHH...!! WAAAAHH...!!"Vera kept crying loudly.Emma looked at Vera attentively, trying to figure out what was wrong. "Maybe Mrs. Vera is thirsty, Sir. Try giving her a baby bottle filled with water."Elio grabbed the baby bottle already available on the table and tried to give it to Vera, but Vera vehemently refused it. "She doesn't want to drink, Emma. What else can we do?"Emma thought for a moment, then said, "Maybe she needs milk, not water. I'll take this baby bottle and replace it with milk."Elio, with visible exhaustion on his face, said, "Let me make the milk. Emma, you try to calm Vera down. I can't stand hearing her cry so loudly like this."Emma nodded, taking the baby bottle from Elio. "Alright, Sir. I'll try to calm her down."Elio left the room for the kitchen to make milk. Meanwhile, Emma tried various ways to calm Vera down. She gently patted Vera's back, hoping to make her feel comfortable."Shh, Mrs. Vera, calm down... everything's okay." Emma said softly."WAAAAHH...!! WAAAAHH...!!" Vera's crying still didn't subside. Emma then lifted Vera, leaning her head against her own large, soft chest, and cradled her like a real baby."Calm down, darling. Everything's okay." Emma whispered as she gently rocked Vera's body.Vera's cries gradually subsided, but there were still sobs heard. Perhaps she began to feel comfortable because her head rested on Emma's big and soft chest.Then Emma decided to sing a lullaby, hoping it would fully calm Vera down."Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are..." Emma's voice was gentle and soothing, trying to bring peace to Vera.