Leather-Bound (Commission Story)

Another Commissioned story for you - Please be aware this is another Age Regression style story. For those who don't like those, maybe pass on it. (again - these are strictly SFW)

Leather-Bound

Golden sunlight spills across the beach promenade as Jesse, Justice, and Hayden stroll past the glittering shoreline. The air is thick with summer warmth and the scent of salt and sunscreen.

Walking, just behind his wife and child, Jesse knows that this should be a moment to savour. Maybe even document with a few pictures, but an unspoken sadness claws at the back of his mind.

Always present, unsettling, and pulling him from the moment.

Sometimes the feeling is so strong that Jesse believes he’s wasted his life. Other times it recedes into the background, smothered by the daily grind—yet it never disappears, always prodding him to wonder how different things might be if he dared to admit the truth.

See, Jesse thinks he might be a woman trapped in a man's body. He can’t confirm it for sure, but he also can’t shake it. Never entirely comfortable in his own skin, he ends up just coasting through life, almost like he’s waiting for his real life to begin.

He looks at his wife, Justice, smiling at his son as they walk together, and feels a touch of guilt.

Should he tell her how he feels? What would that mean for their marriage? Would Hayden still want him to be his parent?

“Hey….”

Jesse looks out at the sea in thought. Its beauty is unable to soothe the storm that rages deep inside.

“Hey…!”

Justice stops to stand in front of Jesse and playfully pokes him in the chest. “Earth to grumpy….”

“Oh, sorry.” Jesse finally answers his wife as she stands in front of him, fanning her face with one hand. “Why don’t you go into that little beach hut shop and get us all a drink?”

Jesse rubs his face. “Yeah, sure. What do you both want?”

“Orange soda,” Hayden grins with a thumbs-up.

Jesse looks at his wife. “For you?”

“Just get me a Diet Coke.”

Jesse forces a smile and heads for the small beach shop. As he enters, the shop doesn’t just sell drinks and ice creams; it sells a variety of trinkets and souvenirs. Mostly seashells, but one item, in particular, grabs his attention.

A small, leatherbound, and very tatty-looking notebook sits proudly on a shelf. Stuck between tacky bits of toriesty trash, it’s very much out of place. Almost as if it’s been put there on purpose.

Jesse can’t help himself but investigate. The leather cover is soft in his hand, and as he opens the notebook, the pages look yellowed, worn and used, yet they are entirely empty.

Curious about the notepad, Jesse keeps hold of it as he remembers what he’s supposed to be doing. He walks over to the drinks fridge and pulls out two Diet Cokes, but doesn’t see any orange soda.

“Hey, erm…” Jesse turns to the young lady behind the counter. “Do you have any orange soda? I really need one.”

The girl looks up from her phone and leans across the counter, trying to look into the fridge. “I-I…I don’t think so.”

Jesse looks again into the fridge, and to his surprise, there’s an entire row of orange soda right in front of his eyes. Almost as if they’d appeared out of thin air.

“Ah, don’t worry,” he chuckles awkwardly, reaching inside to get one. “I see them now.” He takes all three drinks over ot the counter. “Maybe I’m just going a little blind in my old age,” he jokes with the girl.

The cashier girl looks down at the cans, bemused.

“I could have sworn we didn’t sell these,” she comments, scanning the drinks. “That’s so weird.” She then looks at the notebook Jesse is still clutching. “Do you want to buy that too?”

“Oh…erm.” Jesse almost forgot to put it back. Just as he’s about to turn around to place it back on the shelf, a page slips open and written inside, on the first page, is the word ‘orange soda.’

“Oh,” he touches the page with his finger. “That’s strange.”

“Sir?”

Jesse shakes his head. “Oh, it’s nothing.”

Not sure what’s happening, Jesse places the notebook onto the counter. More through curiosity than understanding. Almost like he feels like he’d regret buying the notepad.

The girl scans it and as she’s about to ask for the money, she tilts her head to one side.

“You know what is strange?” she says, curiously staring. “You came in here just now with so many greys in your hair. Yet, now, you’re hair is jet black. It’s almost like you’ve turned back the years just by coming in here.”

Jesse narrows his eyes at the backhanded compliment. “Maybe it’s just the light outside?” he suggests, before presenting his phone at the card machine. “Can I just pay for these, Miss?”

Paying for the items, Jesse rushes to his family, who wait for him at the sea wall, just watching the world go by.

“Here.” He hands his wife a Coke and his son the soda. “Luck they had those. Hayden.”

“Thanks, Dad!” he cracks the can and takes a swig.

Hayden then points at the notebook in his father's hand. “What’s that? Looks very special.”

“Oh.” Jesse blushes. “I thought this looked cool, so I brought it. Y’know, to do sketches and stuff.”

“Nice,” Hayden gives a thumbs-up. “Make sure you look after it. It could be life-changing.”

Jesse stares at his son’s wide grin for a moment. “S-Sorry?”

“Ah, this is nice!” Justice interrupts, leaning against the concrete sea wall, soaking in the sun. She then starts fanning her face once again. “It is a little too hot, though. How nice would it be to have a light summer shower as we walk?”

“Yeah.” Jesse agree’s cracking his own can of drink. “That would be nice.

Just as those mutters words leave his lips, raindrops fall from the sky. Clouds form in a once clear blue sky, slowly turning the sky grey.  

“What the?” Jesse looks up in astonishment. The rain clouds form as if he’d wished them to do so. He looks at his wife, who seems entirely unbothered by the maraculous sight taking place above their heads. “Are you guys seeing this!?”

Justice reaches into her bag and pulls out a small umbrella. “Ah, seems we didn’t get the beautiful day we all wanted,” she comments, opening the umbrella with a wry smile.

“B-But…” Jesse looks up at the grey sky. “I-It was clear blue skies only moments ago!”

Hayden says nothing, just continues to drink his soda.

 Justice, however, gives Jesse an awkward smile. “Are you okay, dear? It’s been grey skies all morning.”

“H-has it?” Jesse looks down at the floor, utterly confused. As if he has gaps in his memories.

“Sweetheart….” Justice reaches across to gently touch her husband's face to comfort him. Only, to her surprise, his skin is smooth and soft to touch.

“Wow, Jesse,” she comments, running her fingers across his face from one side to the other. “That new face routine you’re doing is working wonders. You look ten years younger and your skin is so soft.”

“I-I….I do?”

“Yeah.” Justice pokes his nose and smiles. “Good for you.”

A little taken aback by her comments, Jesse just stands in the gentle rain as his wife and son gather together under her umbrella. He doesn’t know what’s going on, but he has a suspicion that the notebook has something to do with it.

Discreetly, he folds open the first page with his fingertips, and there it is, as bold as the orange soda above it, the word ‘summer shower’ written as if it has always been there.

Is this book granting wishes?

No, it can’t be. That’s crazy.

“Dad,” Hayden says, pulling him from thought. “Don’t let it get wet in the rain.”

“Oh, y-yeah…” Jesse stuffs it into his back pocket. “Erm….” He looks up into the sky, and the cool rain falls onto his face. “S-Should we go home?” he asks, pointing back in the direction of the car.

“Yeah,” Justice smiles. “Probably a good idea.”

Once at home, Jesse shuts himself in his office. His wife doesn’t mind overly; she’s on her phone as usual, doing heaven knows what.

The leatherbound notebook sits open in front of him. He stares at the two words written in the book. Taking a pen, he tries to write something himself, but the pen doesn’t write.

He chooses another pen only to get the same result.

After selecting a third pen to try writing with, only to get the same result, he tests all three pens on a piece of normal paper to find that they all work. Meaning, he’s unable to write in the notebook for some bazaar reason.

He’s left puzzled with wild theories rattling around in his mind. The only way he’s going to know for sure is if he tests his theory.

He leans back in his office chair towards the door.

“Justice!” he calls out. “Justice!”

“What?” she calls back.

“What shoe size am I again?”

“I’m not your mother,” Justice whines back. “But, you’re a size eleven.”

Of course, Jesse knows his shoe size. He’s always hated how big his feet are. When he has his special time and dresses how he truly feels on the inside, his big feet are a hindrance to the footwear he prefers—high heels.

He stares down at the open pages of the book and wishes he had female-sized feet.

Without warning, the words of his wish are there on the page, as if they’d always been printed, yet had only just appeared. Jesse doesn’t notice at first, but as he pushes back from his desk, his gaze drops to his feet.

“Oh my.” He reaches down, and his feet are half the size they once were.

A little shocked, he leans back in her chair once again, awash with the possibilities, but he has to confirm his theory first.

“Justice,” he shouts again. “What size again?”

He hears her moan in frustration before shouting back, “You’re a size six, Jesse. Stop asking and look for yourself!”

Wide-eyed and completely stunned, he realizes his wish has indeed come true. The notebook granted it. What’s even more interesting is that he appears to be the only one who remembers what used to be.

He stands, wobbles a little, not used to small feet, and hurries over to the full-length mirror hanging in his office. He looks into his blue eyes, and they seem more youthful and full of life than ever.

“Hey, Dad.” A voice says from behind him

Spooked, Jesse jumps around to see Hayden standing just behind him with a smile on his face.

“O-Oh… Hayden,” Jesse smiles and then lets out a long breath. “You scared me.”

“Looking good, Dad.” Hayden gives him a thumbs-up.

“Y-You think so?”

Hayden just smiles brightly before walking away down the corridor. Jesse then glances at his reflection one last time and notes just how youthful he’s beginning to look.

“Can’t be,” he says at his reflection, before pressing on his face with both hands. “I’m getting younger. I’m sure of it.”

Jesse begins to pace up and down the corridor, mumbling to himself. Theories of aliens, ancient artifacts, and magic swirl like wild flame as he tries to understand the situation. However, nothing will satisfy his curiosity like testing the book with more wishes.

He shuts himself in his study. Sits at his desk and glares down at the notebook.

“Right,” he says sternly, as if he’s picking a fight with its slightly yellowed pages. “Let’s really put you to the test!”

Jesse leans back in his chair, the weight of possibility pressing on him. The notebook lies open, its pages innocent and silent, but he knows better now.

He taps the desk with one finger. “If you really work… let’s see what happens when I go further.”

His mind drifts to the things he’s thought about for years but never dared speak aloud. The things that have always sat like a quiet ache under the surface, the way he wishes his body matched the image of himself in his head.

He takes a slow breath. “Slimmer wasit line.”

And just like before, nothing appears to change, but words appear in the notebook like they have always been. Jesse reaches to his lower body and like magic, his hips are wide and his narrow waist sinches in, just like a woman's.

And younger. Again. But, not just younger, more subtle than that. His body is shorter. His jaw line softer. His hair, slightly longer and thicker.

“Okay,” he whispers, heart pounding. “This is real. This is actually happening.”

“More feminine!” he demands at the mirror.

It appears on the page, just as it has always been, and the mirror reflects a gentler version of his own face. His cheekbones are a little higher, eyes seeming larger, and he’s beginning to no longer recognise the person staring back at him.

“My goodness,” he gasps, his voice several octaves higher.

His thoughts come at lightning speed, but they are unfiltered. Jesse thinks of having the neat and tidy downstairs, unbecoming of a man.

The words appear, and Jesse can barely bring himself to move. Still staring at the mirror, it’s obvious to him that something quite drastic has change.

He’s about half of his original height. His hair, long, lush, and youthfully bright. His eyes, wide and the deepest of blues.

He turns to look at his desk, now just tall enough to reach the notebook on it. He studies the words on the page.

“I’m turning into a girl.” He mutters in disbelief. “I’m a girl! I really am a girl!”

Unwittingly, the words he mutters appear on the notebook below all the others, like it has always been there.

Jesse collapses onto his backside as his body shifts, hair spilling in long strands before his eyes, limbs narrowing into a slender, delicate frame. His gaze catches the glint of wide, bright eyes in the reflection before a soft, unfamiliar girl’s voice escapes his lips.

“Oh my god!” He stands awkwardly, looking at himself in the mirror.

His mouth drops. Standing before him is the reflection of a girl wearing a yellow onesie and a purple skirt, topped with a buttoned, dungaree-style bib.

Jesse gasps and covers his mouth, only to then take note of his study—a study no more.

Pink drapes, yellow walls adorned by fairy tale creatures, and a single bed fit for a princess, completely covered in soft, cuddly toys. It doesn’t even smell the same, with the scent of diaper cream and powder.

A new reality is appearing before his very eyes. A world, so different, yet so normal.

She gasps again, unable to comprehend what’s happening. Jesse wonders about his wife, his son. Will they recognise him as this little girl who looks so scared in the reflection in the mirror?

Just as Jesse is about to look at the notebook, the door to the door creaks open. Standing in the crack is Hayden with a soft smile on his face. Jesse’s face flushes red as, for the first time, Hayden sees him as a girl.

“Jesse,” he says, stepping into the door to get down on his knees to be at Jesse’s head height. “Well, don’t you look pretty today?”

“H-Hayden?” Jesse looks away and bites her bottom lip, expecting Hayden to tease.

“Yes, little sis,” he replies with a knowing smile. “Are you having a nice day?”

“Sis?” Jesse gasps, feeling weak at the knees. 

“Yes,” Hayden nods in agreement. “You’re my little sister.”

“I am!?”

With a smirk on his face and a glint in his eye, Hayden looks up at the notebook, now sitting on Jesse’s vanity desk alongside makeup and hair accessories.

“A dream come true, perhaps?” Hayden remarks. “Maybe it’s what should have been or perhaps even the start of something real?”

Hayden rests a single hand upon Jesee’s head and ruffles her long, dark brunette hair. “You don’t have to worry that your life has been for nothing now, Jesse. It’s time to start afresh.”

Stunned, Jesse glares at his small hands, complete with purple nail varnish.

“W-What do you mean?”

“Don’t fight it, sis,” Hayden smiles, taking his hand from her head as he stands. He looks around the room in delight, before giving Jesse a big thumbs-up. “Seems this has all worked out rather nicely.”

“D-Do you remember I’m your father, Hayden? I-I….I was a man!”

“Oh, is that right?” Hayden stifles a chuckle. “What an overactive imagination you have, sis. How could you be my father when you’re my little bratty sister, huh?”

“B-B-But….” Jesse looks around and then at her body. It should be completely overwhelming. The life that was once hers is now gone, but it is not. It feels natural. It feels right. It feels more real than ever before. Colors seem brighter, and the world is her oyster once again!

Jesse can’t help but smile as it dawns on her.  

It’s the chance to live her real life. A chance to be free from her male prison.  

“There’s the smile I’ve been waiting for,” Jesse says with another thumbs-up, but takes the notebook into his hands. “Proud of you, sis. I look forward to growing up together.”

Hayden opens her door, and before he walks through it, he turns back to look at her. “Don’t worry about Mom. She’s happy.

“D-Does she remember too?” Jesse asks innocently, worried about what she might say.

“Remember what?” Hayden teases.

“W-Who I wa—”

Hayden puts a finger to his lips and closes his eyes tight. “See you later, Sis. Don’t forget to wear something pretty for when Mom’s new girlfriend comes around.”

“G-Girlfriend?”

Stunned, Jesse just looks at Hayden with wide eyes. 

“She’s happy?” Jesse mumbles before a smile tugs at her lips. “That makes me happy. Yay for mommy!”

“I know,” Hayden winks. “Oh, and Jesse, thanks for the orange soda. That was really nice of you.”

Sharing a smile with her brother, Jesse swirls on the spot, and her hair and skirt dance around her.

“You’re welcome, brother!” she gives him a wide smile and thumbs up with her tiny fingers. “Thanks for,” she looks around her at the new bedroom and then touches her new girly clothes. “Thank you for all this!”