"just open up for me, sweetheart," adrianus said softly.

rain did, even though it was embarrassing, and made her feel small, as he gently pushed the toothbrush into her mouth, carefully brushing in little circles.

"that's right... very good..." he murmured, his full focus on her mouth. "i know you take good care of your teeth... i know you don't need me to do it for you... but... it feels nice like this, doesn't it? do you feel the way it's lightly brushing up against your gums?"

she couldn't answer like that, but she did feel it, when he mentioned it.

"it will only feel better, the more you let me brush your teeth for you... the more you let me take care of you..." he continued. "every little touch will feel more sensitive... you'll feel more and more comfortable, just leaving it all to me... and you'll feel smaller and smaller... when i'm around, and i'm talking to you like this, you might even feel... like you can't really do it on your own..."

he continued in those gentle circles, being thorough, cleaning every tooth carefully. her head felt fuzzy.

"are you getting sleepy?" he asked. "it is your bedtime, isn't it? i'm almost done... just relax your throat for me as i brush your tongue..."

he was delicate with it, but she still gagged for a second.

"shh... just hold your breath for a moment, sweetheart... just relax your throat... just like i taught you, alright?"

she did, trying to hold still while the brush went to the back of her tongue, gently touching it.

"very good," he cooed, finally taking out the brush. "now all you need to do is spit it out, and i'll wash your face, alright? and then we can get to bed. and i'll tell you one of my special bedtime stories..."

she spat it out, looking at herself in the mirror as he washed her face, seeing her own drowsy face, her big pajamas, how much smaller she was than him.

"you used to not like bedtime, didn't you?" he said. "you would always stay up so late... but now you just get too sleepy, don't you? and you're always happy to be tucked in nice and early..."

she nodded.

he kissed the top of her head, and even more of her thoughts melted away into that drowsy feeling.

"such a good girl..."