Chapter 26 - Delia and the Potion

Between work, taking care of Francie and the house work, Delia made time to sneak away into her new hidden room to make potions while Francie napped. She was such a good baby – thank goodness. Delia needed to consign some potions and they were willing to pay for them. 

Her primary goal was to create some more of the aging – or "unaging" – potion for herself. She had never tried again after that first time and although she was very young then, it did seem to slow down the aging process. How else could she explain conceiving a child (even if by a ghost) at her age? And, besides, she needed to have youthful energy to so she could be there for Francie. She was feeling her years and the stress had taken its tole. 

Plus, she thought, no one would want to be with someone her age and with an infant! She surprised herself. Did she really just have that thought?  That she wanted someone in her life?  Delia tried to put the thought out of her mind and quickly dismissed it and continued to work on the potions. The her thoughts turned to her mother.  Her mom didn’t have anyone, but then she was lonely and died when she wasn't much older than Delia was now. Delia would have liked having a father. So maybe, just maybe, if the potion really works, there is hope for her and Francie to have a real family.

Delia successfully completed the Youth Potion with the very last of the quality ingredients needed to make it. Now that it was done, she was beginning to get cold feet. She was very apprehensive as she looked in the mirror and examined her face where she could clearly see the aging that was taking hold. 








Delia decided to wait and sleep on it so she sat it on her bedside table and went to bed. 


But Delia couldn’t sleep. All she could think about was how the other potions had actually seemed to DO something supernatural. And she was fine after using it before, in fact MORE than fine. Okay - she was doing this. Her mind was made up. She would use it right now! No more waiting.

Delia got out of bed and used the potion.  The now familiar feeling from long ago came over her. The warmth, the tingling and she swore she could actually feel her body changing. She hadn’t expected that. Last time she just felt the warmth and tingling, but not the physical changes, however she was much younger then.  

When the feeling stopped, Delia ran to look in the mirror and was astonished.  Her skin was smooth, just like she was 20.  It was true. The potion actually seemed to have reversed the aging process. 











She had to sit down and hold her daughter to take it all in. She felt rejuvenated. She had finally convinced herself there was something to this potion business that went beyond just powerful medicines. They caused physical changes to the people they were used on. But it could be used for evil so she must be careful.   The basement would have to remain hidden.  No one else could be trusted with this knowledge.  And she would only sell and use harmless potions from now on.

Had she really discovered the Fountain of Youth. Now she was confused because the Elixir store sold her the recipe. And she had bought the first potion from them. Why didn't the clerk just make it and get rich? Whatever, it worked for her and would remain secret until she was ready to share it with someone. 

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