βI want to show you something cool.β
She didnβt quite see what the fuss was about. Yes, the way her girlfriend brushed her finger against the nape of her neck wasβ¦nice. But nothing more.
βIs that all? I thought it wouldββ
It was like she was petting a tiny animalβgingerly rubbing the strands of downy in a soothing, repetitive rhythm.
βNow, find a spot on the wall.β
βAβa spot?β she asked, confused. βWhat kind of spot?β
βAny spot. Just pick one. I promise itβs cool.β
Fine. She arbitrarily selected a pinprick-sized area of off-white wall.
βNow, focus the entirety of your vision on that one spot. Keep your eyes trained on itβfixated on that single point.β
She stared at the spot. βIs this some kind of optical illusion?β
βSomething like that. Just stare at the spot for a while. And watch your breathing.β
Her breathing? βWhat?β
βYes. Notice the way your chest fills with air when you inhale. The way you exhale, how warmth spreads through your body as you doβ¦β
As her mind processed the words, she suddenly became aware of her breath. Inhaleβ¦and exhaleβ¦ She glanced down at her chestβ
βLook at the spot, dear.β
Right, focus. She tried to find the spot again and fixed her gaze on it. She wouldnβt look away this time.
βThatβs rightβ¦just staring at the spot, focusing every inch of your gaze on it. Now, hereβs the cool part. You might notice that with every breath, you feel a little more relaxedβ¦β
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.
ββ¦slipping deeper now. Deeper with every second you stare at the wall.β
Dammit. Sheβd 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.
βPerhaps your eyelids are starting to feel heavy now.β
βLike there are lead weights on your lashes, pulling them down, down, downβ¦β
She just wanted to close them. Butβ¦the illusionβ¦she didnβt want to miss itβ¦
βDropping, droopy, droopyβ¦β
She couldnβt help herself. Her eyelids droopedβshe tried to keep them open, but only managed a half-lidded stare.
βDroopy, droolyβjust like your mouth. Slipping open, letting all those unnecessary thoughts drain outβ¦β
Her lips parted. A thin trickle of saliva began to fall from her mouth. She could still feel the finger petting her neck.
βUntil your brain is as lovely and blank as your stare.β
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.
βNow, Iβm going to count backwards from five. With each number youβre going to think β Iβm deeply hypnotized. β And when I count one, your sleepy eyes will shut, and you will drop into an obedient trance. Understand?β
βUh-huh.β She understood.
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