Elise

“Are you sure?!”  I was shocked; how could this happen?  I thought the disease was sexually transmitted. No way would Mom have ever cheated on Dad.  I would never believe that.

As we ate dinner, my parents had just broken the news to me that my mother is infected.  Dad reached for Mom’s hand at the dinner table.  She returned it with a warm smile of appreciation.

“Yes. The lab called this afternoon and confirmed the diagnosis."  Mom said, looking like she had just been told she has terminal cancer.  My heart went out to her.

"Before you wonder, I want you to know that my trust in your mother’s faithfulness is unbroken. Not everything is known about how the pathogen is communicated, after all.” Dad stepped in, assuaging some of my concern for his inevitable doubts.  “Luckily, your mother has you, Elise. She'll need your support throughout this process, and I'm counting on you to help me understand your evolving needs as well.”

Dad looked like he summoned his resolve, then continued, "In light of this news, we wanted to talk about making some changes as a family.  We're considering moving to that new tract of infected homes being built on the other side of town" 

He let me digest that news a moment before going on to defend his case. "After all, with two of the three members of this family infected, my needs are going to be in the minority soon enough. I mean, look at us, we can't even eat at the same dinner table anymore."

He was right. I looked down at the TV tray holding my food.  After the last couple growth spurts, eating with the family at the kitchen table was just too uncomfortable, so I started taking my meals in the adjacent family room.  Luckily, our home had an open floor plan, so it was a simple matter of turning the love seat to enable me to at least see my parents while I ate.  Further, I was getting very uncomfortable even walking around upstairs.  Our home had 9 foot ceilings on the main level, but upstairs was still 8, and I was just at that now.  I had already broken a couple light fixtures being careless, but I was adapting.

Applying makeup in front of the bathroom mirror had turned into a chore, so I had given up standing in favor of a seated position.  Showering was also a challenge, but I made it work using a spray wand nozzle attachment while crouching in the tub. I desperately missed standing in the shower and letting the steaming hot water course over my body after a good run.

The new homes were supposed to be designed with final stage infected in mind. Naturally, they were substantially more costly than traditional homes due to their increased dimensional and structural requirements.  I knew that the uninfected housing market wasn't doing so well right now either, with so many families moving to larger homes.  Adding fuel to the fire, congress had authorized a significant tax hike that would go into effect at the start of next year.  Economic pundits conceded that the new taxes would likely put the economy into a recession, but there didn't appear to be any other way to handle the costs of infrastructure imposed by the growing populous.

The thought of living comfortably as I used to in my own home was certainly appealing, but at what cost to my parents? 

"Are you sure you and Mom can afford that?  I hate to bring up an ugly truth, but you know that any woman taller than 9 feet is forced to retire from their public school teaching positions until something is done about the size provisions in schools. It's the same for all municipal and state employees in government buildings.  Mom could lose her job."

He looked at Mom as she stared at the floor,  "That's true, but we will find a way.  I've spoken to a real estate agent and she tells me that there is money available through the new housing assistance program for infected women.  Besides, our clothing budget will be reduced soon, now that the new infected clothing exchange store is opening up.  I know you don't like the thought of second hand clothes, but almost everything in the store has only been worn once or twice, and they'll accept most anything in trade as long as it's like new. Either way, Sweetheart, this is not your worry.  Your Mom and I will find a way.  This home has seen us through good times and bad, and I'm sure we'll all be sad to move on, but it's really for the best.  Don't you agree?"

"Dad, it's nice of you to consider Mom and I, but what about you?  Are you going to be able to live in a home with bathtubs that are 3 feet deep and kitchen counters that are 5 feet off the floor?  Keep in mind that these houses are not completely custom - they're designed for people that are 12 feet tall.  Depending on where Mom and I end up, it could be large even for us."

He scooted his chair next to Mom's, put his arm around her and said gently, "Elise, you know as well as I do that the new houses are being purpose built for both sexes.  They have food prep areas, wash stations, bathrooms, and other provisions for each gender.  If I struggle, I'm sure you and your mother can help me out."  he smirked. 

Wow, he was taking this really well.  He might say that now, but how emasculated would he feel having to ask his wife for a hand getting into bed, or worse yet, using a stool?  He went on, saying, "Of course, all of this adds to the cost of the place, but you two are all that matters to me; I would do anything for you."

Mom looked at Dad and put her head against his shoulder.  "Thank you, Honey"

They were so sweet together.  I was really worried for my Mom, and empathized that she must fear for her marriage and way of life.  But along with Alex, my Dad was one of the best guys I knew of, and he always did what was right.  I was confident that we would all pull through thanks to their love for one another.

Everyone was absorbed with their thoughts as I helped Mom clean the dishes and Dad retreated to his study to review our finances.  I dried, as usual, to avoid having to virtually kneel on the floor in order to wash without the inevitable back pain from leaning over. Mom was quiet as she washed, but I tried to comfort her by reminding her that this would give us something in common.  I sensed that she felt detached from me now that I was over 2 feet taller than her.  Hopefully she'd see the silver lining soon.

Dishes done, I walked upstairs to get ready for my call with Alex. He had returned to school about a month prior, and our daily conversations were the only thing that made his absence bearable.  The night we started seeing each other still resonated in my mind as one of the best nights of my life.

I sighed when I thought about how we had gotten intimate after our first kiss as a couple in my parent's car.  Both my parents and his were entertaining company that night, so we couldn’t go home to get comfortable as the growth took me. 

The rear seat of my parent's sedan offered nowhere near enough space for the two of us, so I picked the next closest destination that I figured would offer even a shred of privacy - my college campus.  We finally caught a break when we found the student lounge empty.  Thank God the room had a lock.

Alex responded to my cues with an attention that I didn't think guys were capable of. Sensing the pain my fitted shirt was starting to cause me, Alex ripped it apart with his hands, savagely freeing me from its confines.  His animalism instantly shoved my lust from simmer to rolling boil. 

I was an absolute mess – he needed to be inside of me…now.  Ripping his pants from him was so easy it almost made me pause, but I discarded the thought along with the rest of my clothes, spreading myself on the couch.

Our rutting was filled with burning need, and anything but gentle.  Poor Alex would end up sore the following day.  The smell of his nude body was indescribable, working me into a frenzy.  I came, over and over, harder than I ever had before.  How many times I couldn’t say, but my fire just kept rising, growing with my body even as he fucked me as hard as he could.  Combined with the chemicals flooding my pleasure centers from the growth, I felt as though I might lose my mind to the experience.

Contrasting our bestial lovemaking, the rest of the evening was a picture of tenderness.  I gave Alex an eyeful as I retreated to the car with only a small vest as a top.  It did an extremely poor job of covering my bouncing breasts as I ran. 

Acting the gentlemen, he offered me his leather jacket, but my shoulders had grown too broad for it to fit.  We got to the car, squeezing into the back together.  Lacking the space for us to sit side by side, I pulled him into my lap, my left arm encircling his chest as I stroked his hair lightly with my fingertips. 

The world outside the back seat of the car faded away.  Alex relaxed into my body completely and I sensed his implicit trust, furthering my urge to protect and envelope my mate.  It was one of the happiest moments of my life.

I sighed, coming back to the present.  Only three more days until the surprise visit I was planning for Alex.  I needed a new outfit to really wow him.  The phone rang and brought me out of my reverie.