As Katie drifted off to sleep, Kelly was having dreams of her own. She dreamed she was an adult, rushing through the halls of her law firm. With each step, she became younger and younger while behind her the problems of the adult world surged like a huge stream of darkness, pushing her forwards. With each diminished step, she felt the burdens of these things lifting, but the fear of them growing. Responsibility as a mother, worry about where food or shelter would come from, it all was so much. Kelly struggled but in vain in her mind, her adult memories and understandings combating with childish ones.
Kelly woke with a start and sat up. She was in a small bed, wearing a small set of pajamas. Panting heavily she realized it wasn't just a dream. She was a seven year old again, sleeping in her daughter's bed. Whimpering, the little girl tucked her head against her knees. Why had this happened? Why did this strange power take a hold of her? Yes, Katie was proving very mature, but she... she was a woman, wasn't she? She was the girls mother. Kelly didn't feel very motherly right now, in fact...she felt quite the opposite. Moving to the edge of the bed, Kelly dangled her feet, slipped the distance to the carpet and padded down the hall to her former room. Katie lay in her former bed, sleeping soundly. Kelly climbed up and nestled next to the form of the sleeping adult.
Katie stirred groggily and opened her eyes.
"I couldn't sleep..." Kelly said, voice soft as a kitten's. "Bad dreams."
Katie's eyes half closed in irritation but she gathered her arm around her former mother and pulled the covers over both. Kelly smiled and snuggled next to her. There was a feeling of warmth and comfort now being this close to someone big. Wrapping her arms around her daughter, she watched as Katie fell back to sleep.