The Tens, Vanessa Jones [i like reading books .TXT] 📗

the movies. It's a very controlled process which is akin to a deep relaxation.'

'You think it would help with the nightmares?'

'I think it would help with the relaxation centres in your brain. Help to activate them more frequently and on command, so that your anxiety and paranoia reduce. As for the nightmares, who's to say? There are plenty of case studies of people who have had success with hypnosis treating their night time worries. But, for you, the best thing we can do is try it for at least three sessions and monitor your nightmare activity closely. Perhaps keep a journal? I'll only be a phone call away, should anything arise for you that we need to address urgently.'

'I guess we could try it. For three sessions you reckon?'

'Yes, and if it seems to be helping you curb your symptoms than we can continue with a few more. Put it this way, you don't have a lot to lose.' Carla placed her hands on top of one another and cocked her head to the side, smiling. She skilfully put Sophie at ease and was right, she didn't have a lot to lose.

'Okay, I'm happy to try it. I'm kinda running out of options.'

'Good. Well, we can start now. I'm a trained clinical hypnotherapist and it's a very simple process. You can either remain sitting or lie down on the couch, if you prefer. It's totally up to you, whatever you are most comfortable with.'

Sophie let her eyelids swoop down, almost relieved to be able to rest, to stop talking, thinking about the next thing she was going to say and what that all meant and how she could put her mind back together. Carla's office was so warm, it was like a hug and Sophie was ready to succumb the second that Carla's slow, dripping voice talked her into the hypnosis process.

Disappointingly, Sophie fell asleep. At least she had hoped she had. Otherwise the hypnosis had worked more powerfully than she ever expected and it was exactly like all those TV shows and magician performances, which she had never believed were real. Surely, they were staged? Humans can't just succumb to the will of another with a few vocal prompts. If they did, then why don't they do weird shit every time they fall asleep in front of the TV or listening to true crime podcasts?

'I'm sorry Sophie, it looks as though it didn't work. I'd be willing to try again next time, if you are? I still think it could be very beneficial, particularly with the nightmares.'

Sophie couldn't help but feel that Carla was incensed with her, even though she delivered her words with softness and delicacy behind a smile. There was something in her eyes and the way Carla's hands had tensed around the ends of the chair arms that led Sophie to believe that whatever she had done, she had failed Carla.

Sophie stepped out of Carla's office in a jumper and thick khaki coat that belonged to Alex. Despite her detest for hats, she wore a beanie— another of Alex's— so she didn't have to smell her unwashed hair and to keep warm, even it was a mild day. She was soon becoming acclimatised to Carla's warm office.

Sophie spotted Bree standing across the street and wiped and blinked her bleary eyes, still sticky from hypnosis. As she rushed over to her, it dawned on her that she missed spending time with her new friend.

'I almost didn't recognise you in your activewear Bree!'

'Hmmm.' Bree didn't look that happy to see her and Sophie wondered if she'd done something wrong. Maybe she overestimated their friendship? Was Bree put off getting too close to her after Sophie told her she heard voices and tried to fly? She could hardly blame her.

'What are you doing in this part of town?' Sophie asked with less enthusiasm.

'Oh, I just thought I'd do some shopping. That gourmet supermarket is meant to have amazing local produce, you know?' Her eyes lit up again and Sophie admonished herself for reading too much into things. She probably had a fight with her husband or had other things on her mind. Sophie found it hard to ignore the stress— or was it a cringe?— in the lines of her eyes.

'I've just been having a therapist's appointment. The one you recommended. Over there.' Sophie pointed across the road and then it hit her. Another cringe-worthy interaction with her new friend. No wonder she didn't want to stop and chat like old pals, she was probably on her way to have her own appointment with Carla and, understandably, didn't want anyone to know about it. 'I must let you go then, I know how busy you are,' Sophie wanted to hug her. The desire to take her hand was paramount. But, learning from her mistakes, she vowed to reign in any awkward behaviour and stop crossing boundaries with Bree. At least until they got to know each other better.

'Oh yes, I must shove on.' Bree stepped forward onto the road without saying goodbye and left Sophie standing there. But before she crossed the road, Bree turned back and said, 'Soph? Look after yourself, okay?'

There was something familiar about the way that Bree regarded her. Something that she couldn’t quite place. Throwing herself into her car, Sophie was furious when it hit her. It was the same kind of look that Alex used to give her. And if she thought about it hard enough, it was the same look that was fighting its way through Carla’s professional veneer. The condescending bullshit that Bree just served up to her was more than she could bear. Did everyone in the world think she was so fucking crazy that she couldn't take care of herself?

Sophie looked in the car’s rearview mirror to try and see what they all saw. Did they see an untameable, yet unbalanced, wildness? Or did they just see a really tired