The old porcelain tub filled steadily, steam curling into the cool air of the bathroom. Debbie stood beside it, fully dressed. Not in pajamas or a robe, but in her favourite going-out outfit: a dark blue denim shirt tucked into a snug, knee-length denim skirt, cinched at the waist with a wide, brown leather belt. On her feet, perhaps the most incongruous part, were sleek, black thigh-high boots with sharp stiletto heels.
She took a breath, the scent of lavender bath salts mixing with the faint, dry smell of denim and leather. Then, bracing herself slightly, she stepped carefully into the rising water.
The initial contact was a jolt warm water meeting cool fabric. She watched, fascinated, as the dark patches spread rapidly across the denim of her skirt, the material instantly becoming heavier, clinging tightly to her legs. The water wicked up her shirt, darkening the blue, making the buttons feel colder against her skin.
Slowly, she lowered herself, sinking deeper until the water reached the thick leather belt. It resisted for a moment, then the water seeped into the pores, darkening the brown, making it supple and heavy against her waist. The water climbed higher, soaking the denim shirt completely, plastering it to her shoulders and arms.
Water streamed over the tops of her boots, a strange sensation as it trickled down the inside, filling the space between the synthetic material and her skin, pooling around her feet. The weight was significant now, the waterlogged denim a heavy embrace, the boots anchors filled with warmth.
She leaned her head back against the cool rim of the tub, closing her eyes. It wasn't about getting clean. It was about the unusual weight, the drag of the saturated fabric against her skin with every slight movement, the way the water moulded the clothes to her form. The denim felt different, softer yet heavier, the structure of the skirt surrendering to the water's embrace. Even the stiff leather belt felt strangely pliable. She shifted slightly, the water inside her boots sloshing gently, a peculiar warmth against her calves and thighs. It was an immersion in texture and weight, a heavy, saturated stillness that felt oddly calming. The water gurgled softly around her, the only sound beyond her own quiet breathing