Hypnotherapy
By [email protected]

Dr. Leon looked down at his new patient and smiled. She was a far cry from his usual therapy patients: blonde hair, cute figure, and a gorgeous face. Easily the most attractive woman to enter his office in years. He was so enamored with her, in fact, that he actually listened to her problems, rather than daydreaming and throwing in the occasional ‘how do you feel about that?’ until the hour was up.

Lesley lay on his couch and related her problems. Unworthy guys. Lack of stability. Creeping problems that were not her fault. As Leon listened to her talk, he felt a strange feeling. One he hadn’t felt in years. Instead of wanting to milk this girl for all the money he could squeeze out of her, he actually wanted to help her. Wow. He hadn’t tried that in forever.

“Miss Charles,” he said, when she was done talking. “Your problems are typical, though that does not make them any less serious. While I would normally suggest biweekly sessions until your money—er, your problems—are gone, I have a more radical solution in mind.”

Lesley sat up and looked at her doctor suspiciously. “What sort of solution?”

“Hypnotism.”

*

“By the time I count to three, you will go into a deep trance. You will feel warm and comfortable and safe, and nothing will bother you. One, two, three...”

Lesley still sat on the chair, but now her eyes were closed and her breathing was slow and regular. She had a peaceful look on her face, more relaxed than she’d appeared seconds before.

Leon left her that way for about ten minutes. He hoped this time spent in total relaxation would carry over when he woke her back up. He was almost tempted to let her stay this way for hours, but the work day was over, and he needed to go home.

“Lesley, when I snap my fingers, you will wake up, feeling relaxed and happy, as if all your problems are a distant memory.”

He snapped.

He snapped again.

And again.

“Lesley? Miss Charles?”

She just sat there, looking serene and quiet.

“Uh oh.”

*

Leon spent hours trying to bring her around, using every hypnotic technique he could think of. This was getting to be a real problem. I mean, she wasn’t bothering anyone, but a hypnotized woman in his office...that might scare away paying clients! Maybe he could slip a sheet over her and pass her off as a table. Or...

There was an old refrigerator box in the basement. And a hand truck...

*

Six Months Later

Lesley sat on the couch in Leon’s living room, still wearing the same happy, unconscious expression. It hadn’t been hard to sneak her out of the office, and keeping her in his house proved to be little difficulty. He dusted her off whenever she needed it, and if he had friends over, he could keep her in the linen closet.

At first, Leon was worried that that she wasn’t eating, but apparently the trance she was in caused her to be self-sustaining. Half a year, and her complexion was still rosy and she seemed in the peak of health.

Leon felt rather guilty about what he’d done to the woman and made it a point to take care of her. He washed her every day (he had to get rid of her old clothes, and just dressed her in a pair of shorts and a bikini top). He’d wheel her out to his secluded back yard so she could get sun. He massaged her back and shoulders. She seemed to enjoy this, her peaceful smile would widen when Leon rubbed her down. She also seemed quite ticklish, her body jiggling when Leon tickled her in certain areas. In fact, he could just about guarantee he had discovered every ticklish spot on her body. You know. For research’s sake.

Leon had tried for days to revive his patient. He even went so far as to try the Sleeping Beauty cure, kissing Lesley on her lips and other places. After about a week, however, he decided she would not wake up until she felt like it. And that was shaping up to be a long time. Oh well, he was happy to take care of her. To bathe her and massage her and kiss her. For medicinal reasons, of course.

Leon wondered if Lesley might be stuck like this for good. At least she was no longer stressed out and worried. He silently rubbed her belly. Her smile widened.

Perhaps, if she was like this for another month, he could decorate her for Christmas. Wrap some lights around her, and cover her with tinsel...