number12and32003

Elly stared at the flashing spiral. It truly was impossible not to. The patterns and pulses pressed on her mind, keeping her attention locked. "Just... focus.... and relax...." Carolyn's calm voice told her. Elly didn't think about it much. She felt her thoughts drifting away, her body becoming heavy and still. It was strangely comforting, as if she was being lulled into a deep dream. “Good girl.. so sleepy… so fixated… so relaxed… so focused…” Her eyelids grew heavy and soon she could barely keep them open, even as the spiral continued to rotate in her vision. She was so mesmerized by the spiral’s rhythm that her mind no longer produced many thoughts of its own. The voice droned on, but Elly didn’t think about that either. It was just there. Gently pressing her mind deeper into the comfort. The voice soothed her and the spiral transfixed her. “Good girl… you are responding so well… we will count down once again, and when I now reach zero, you will…” All the concerns

Elly always looked forward to visiting her childhood friend Sarah, especially now that she had moved out of town for college and didn't get to see her as often. So when Sarah invited her to spend the weekend at her home in their hometown, Elly eagerly accepted. But during Friday evening, as they settled in to watch movies and catch up, Sarah's phone rang with an urgent call from work. Deeply apologizing, Sarah had to rush out and take the night shift, leaving Elly alone in the house with her mother, Carolyn. As Elly sat on the couch, feeling disappointed and a little bit anxious, Carolyn approached with a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry you have to stay here on your own. Is there anything I can get you to make you more comfortable?" She offered a friendly grin before adding, "Sarah won't be back until tomorrow morning, but you've been here many times before. I'm sure you'll feel just as at home." And Elly did feel just as home in this house. As a child, she spent many days and