My Secret Double Life

I've always been this person nobody knows, a secret I keep from everyone except one special someone. It started when I was going through a rough breakup and feeling lost. One day, out of the blue, this guy reached out to me online. He had seen some old photos of mine that were... a bit silly. We talked for days, catching up like we'd been friends forever, until he suggested something different. He said he saw me as a little girl in those photos and wanted to play pretend with me, treat me like a child. At first, I laughed it off but then something clicked inside of me. It was freeing somehow, letting go of adult worries for just a moment. So I agreed to his game. We set up rules and boundaries together. He's always been very protective of my comfort level - if ever I say stop or feel uncomfortable, the whole thing stops immediately. But mostly, he's just there as a kind father figure who helps me relax and be myself when I'm feeling stressed. Sometimes we have tea time with stuffed animals, other times he gives me little chores like picking up toys or doing homework (he grades my assignments afterwards). It's silly really, but in the moments of it all, something about being treated as a child again feels healing. It takes away the pressures and responsibilities of being an adult. But here's the thing - I'm afraid people will find out about this side of me. What if they see my childishness or silliness as a weakness? My friends think of me as strong, independent, no nonsense. But when I log off from that special someone, I feel vulnerable and exposed to who I truly am inside. So here's the confession - there is a whole other part of me out there, playing pretend to get through life.