“Testing 1,2,3… Testing 1,2,3.”

He didn’t really know what else to say. Hi, seemed weird, it had only been, maybe, forty-five minutes since he and his wife last talked. So instead he said the first thing that came to his mind into the gigantic microphone before him. Feeling almost faint at the size of it.

As Liz placed it down in front of him the sudden realization of his predicament hit like a bus. His legs felt weak, his stomach tossed and turned, he gave a little heave, as his head felt like it was floating in the clouds, but somehow with a slight cough he came too. 

Centering himself once again. In reality, the microphone was probably half an inch at best. It was one of those clip ones that newscasters put on their shirts. Sure the microphone wasn’t that much taller than him. Perhaps a foot, maybe a foot and a half his size, but perhaps that is what made it so much worse.

He watched as a smile lit up his wife's face and she turned and embraced her sister.

“It works,” she yelled jumping up and down, “Thank you so fucking much.”

“Don’t mention it,” Abigail said as she adjusted the headphones she was wearing.

That was how they could hear him. Headphones. Abigail said when she was hooking it up that she had ordered earbuds but they hadn’t arrived yet. She told Liz that those would be better. They were wireless anywhere up to 100 feet so Liz could be in another room and she could at least hear him if he needed anything.

Liz pulled herself away from her sister and looked down at Daniel.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I when I bent down, when I picked you up, when I put you on the desk, or when we were hooking up the equipment, right?”
She sounded genuinely concerned. He was thankful for that. The only thing he could think of that would have been worse than being so small would be to be with someone that didn’t consider the size difference. 

He shook his head and said, “No but your movement on the ground was rough.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What did it feel like,” Abigail asked.

“Like a very strong miniature earthquake. It was hard to keep my balance to be honest.”

“Interesting.”

“If you could just be careful when you are moving around that would be grateful. Hopefully though I don’t end up on the ground again.”

“Look hun. I know you said you didn’t want to but are you sure you don’t want to go to a hospital? I mean at your size a simple accident can,” She paused not wanting to finish.

“Kill you,” Said Abigail quickly.

Liz gave her a glare.

“I understand that but… look. If in a few days it seems like the hospital is treating people my size with respect I will go. However, I do not want to be a lab rat and this is my home.”

Liz nodded her head, “I want you home to baby. I will do whatever I can to make you comfortable and safe.”
“Well you are going to need someplace for him to sleep,” Abigail chimed in, “I think at his size sleeping together would be a bad idea.”

“What? Why?”
“She is right,” He said painfully, “There are nights you roll in your sleep and you do like to at least move. One wrong move and I am done. Even if you don’t hit or roll on me our size difference is huge. The impact of it could send me flying in the air. Doesn’t matter where I fall at that point the fall would be pretty good I would wager.”

“Not only that but if you drool in your sleep sis you could drown the man,” Abigail jumped in,” If you snore you could suck him into your mouth like a bug or perhaps he goes up your noise. If you fart you shoot him off the bed. I mean that’s everything I could think of.”

Daniel was shocked. Abigail was more aware of the situation than his own wife. Abigail looked down at her feet, nervous, biting her lip.

“Any move I make could hurt him right now, can’t it?”

“Yeah, just about.”

She looked up at Daniel with a sad look on her face, “I am sorry babe but you are going to have to go to the hospital.”

“What?”

“I can’t do this. Take care of you. What if I put something down not realizing where you are? What if I sit on you or something? I love you too much to put your life in danger like that.”

She dug into her pocket and pulled out her phone. Daniel felt a pang in his heart and his stomach drop. No, not this.

“Please,” He cried, “Don’t do this. I will be fine. I trust you.”

Abigail looked between the two of us as Liz unlocked her phone. After a brief moment or two she grabbed Liz by the arm.

“Wait? I will take care of him?”
“Really,” Daniel said with a smile on his face.

“Are you sure? This is a lot and you had trouble keeping a fish alive?”

“Fish die no matter what you do sis. Those guys are not hardy at all. Plus this is Daniel we are talking about. This man saved my life. I will take care of him. I owe him.”

“What if you get back on drugs?”
“I will have a little angel on my shoulder.”

Liz lowered the phone and looked at Daniel.

“Is this OK with you babe?”
Daniel didn’t think about the big picture. All he knew at the moment was that he didn’t want to be sent to a hospital and possibly locked up in a jar with more men like him. Experimented on to see how and why this happened, hoping for a cure that may never come.

“Yeah,” he said deep down, hurt that his sister-in-law would rather take the chance of taking care of him.

“I will come visit every day. You are still my husband and when I figure out how to best take care of you here then you can come home.”

Daniel wanted to curse at her. Tell her that their house was no doubt better suited than Abigail’s house but he didn’t. He bit his tongue instead.

“Of course baby. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Alright. I will give you guys some space to say good-bye while I call my roommate and explain what the hell is going on.”

As she walked out of the room, pulling her own phone out of her pocket, it hit him what she just said.

“Did she just say roommate?”