Baby Level

Jasmine closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. If she was going to give up her independence, she figured she might as well go all the way. Choosing the baby level meant full regression—diapers, bottle feeding, total dependence on a caregiver. It was the highest-paying option, guaranteeing her family the maximum financial support.

She hated the thought of losing her autonomy completely, but what scared her more was seeing her parents homeless. If sacrificing her dignity for a few years could give them a future, then maybe it was worth it. Besides, if she had to endure this, she would rather be so far into the role that she wouldn’t have to think about reality at all. Maybe if she was treated like a baby, she wouldn’t feel the weight of what she was giving up.