Victoria's Secret

I was a child when I found out. After my father left, my mother got a little slack, and I discovered her secret.

She hadn't closed her bedroom door properly. I was walking past and... I know it was wrong, OK? I was at that age when a chance to glimpse almost any breasts is powerful. My head moved as if on a string. What was that?

It looked like a flash of greenish... something.

A fancy new bra maybe?

I should've looked away, I know. There were so many reasons I shouldn't've crept closer, and peered through the gap.

There was some kind of lizard creature walking on its hindlegs around my mother's bedroom.

My guts felt cold and slimy. What was going on? What was that? Had it done something to my mother? It was wearing her underwear, and pulling on her clothes. I backed away from the door, horror scrabbling at me with poisonous claws.

I moved downstairs, my eyes fixed on her door. Moments later, mother appeared, patting her hair into place. Did she blink too quickly? For a second, did her pupils look different?

How long had that thing been walking around pretending to be my mother?

"Patrick?" she said. "Ready for breakfast?"

I couldn't make my voice work, so I made a weird strangled sound and nodded.

"Pancakes?" she said. I stared, looking for... I dunno, clues, or something. "Are you OK?" she asked. "You look a bit peaky."

We ate. My stomach and brain roiled. My sisters came in, sat down, poured syrup. Did they know? Should I tell?

I didn't. I kept the secret, and started spying on my sisters, wondering if they were imposters, too. I peered into their eyes, worrying I'd gone mad.

I said nothing for a decade, and then I got drunk and confessed it to my girlfriend as a "funny story of something I thought I saw when I was a kid". I woke up in hospital. I'd been attacked, brutally, and left for dead. She ghosted me.

A suspicion formed.

I used every ounce of cunning I had to spy on my next girlfriend.

Guys! All women are reptiles. Tell the others!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Word count excluding note: 366 Submitted on Sunday 7th July at 14.17

*Quick Author's Note* First, and most importantly: thank you so much for reading my story! The ha'penny that Vocal will toss in my hat for your eyeballs landing on this humble piece will be well-spent.

If you enjoyed this one, the very best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another!

A Year of Stories: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one continues my 189 day streak since 1st January. Please do consider lending your support to the other creators who are also on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They are putting out excellent content every day! Rachel Deeming Gerard DiLeo

Please do leave me a comment: I reciprocate as many as I can. Leaving a comment makes that easier.

The story behind the story: I've had this one ticking away in my brain for a while. Don't worry, I'm not a misogynist, I just thought it was a fun idea.

Thank you! Thank you again, most sincerely. Especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you very much indeed! 😁

Edited to fix formatting. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +