“I want to show you something cool.”
She didn’t quite see what the fuss was about. Yes, the way her girlfriend brushed her finger against the nape of her neck was…nice. But nothing more.
“Is that all? I thought it would—“
It was like she was petting a tiny animal—gingerly rubbing the strands of downy in a soothing, repetitive rhythm.
“Now, find a spot on the wall.”
“A—a spot?” she asked, confused. “What kind of spot?”
“Any spot. Just pick one. I promise it’s cool.”
Fine. She arbitrarily selected a pinprick-sized area of off-white wall.
“Now, focus the entirety of your vision on that one spot. Keep your eyes trained on it—fixated on that single point.”
She stared at the spot. “Is this some kind of optical illusion?”
“Something like that. Just stare at the spot for a while. And watch your breathing.”
“Yes. Notice the way your chest fills with air when you inhale. The way you exhale, how warmth spreads through your body as you do…”
As her mind processed the words, she suddenly became aware of her breath. Inhale…and exhale… She glanced down at her chest—
“Look at the spot, dear.”
Right, focus. She tried to find the spot again and fixed her gaze on it. She wouldn’t look away this time.
“That’s right…just staring at the spot, focusing every inch of your gaze on it. Now, here’s the cool part. You might notice that with every breath, you feel a little more relaxed…”
She was right. The ebb and flow of air through her lungs calmed her. Soothed her. Like the gentle touch of the index finger brushing her neck. Like the spot on the wall. It was impossible to focus on all three at once. If she gave her attention to the wall and the finger, she would miss the clockwork rhythm of breath and warmth flowing through her body. If she gave it to the wall and the breath, she would miss the affection touch tickling the most sensitive part of her neck. If she gave it to the breath and and the finger, she would be giving a blank, glassy-eyed stare into empty space.
“…slipping deeper now. Deeper with every second you stare at the wall.”
Dammit. She’d spaced out. She opened her mouth to ask her girlfriend to repeat herself, but decided against it. She would just pay close attention from now on.
“Perhaps your eyelids are starting to feel heavy now.”
“Like there are lead weights on your lashes, pulling them down, down, down…”
She just wanted to close them. But…the illusion…she didn’t want to miss it…
“Dropping, droopy, droopy…”
She couldn’t help herself. Her eyelids drooped—she tried to keep them open, but only managed a half-lidded stare.
“Droopy, drooly—just like your mouth. Slipping open, letting all those unnecessary thoughts drain out…”
Her lips parted. A thin trickle of saliva began to fall from her mouth. She could still feel the finger petting her neck.
“Until your brain is as lovely and blank as your stare.”
Her mind slowed. No longer registering the words consciously. Just staring at the spot. Feeling the warmth in her chest. Feeling the drool on her chin.
“Now, I’m going to count backwards from five. With each number you’re going to think ‘ I’m deeply hypnotized. ’ And when I count one, your sleepy eyes will shut, and you will drop into an obedient trance. Understand?”
“Uh-huh.” She understood.
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