My whole life has been spent thinking I know what I want, but you see, that was until I was shown something I never knew existed. We've all seen these movies where hypnotists call people on stage, put the whammy on them and suggest they cluck like a chicken so I've never put too much stock in it. Until I found a post on Reddit looking for volunteer subjects by a user called Hypnaughtist. I had thought about closing my laptop and ignoring it but something had pulled me to respond. I mean what the hell, you only live once right? Or at least that was what Drake was always saying. That was a month ago and we've spent almost every night since on video chat, him showing me his craft and me being an initially sceptical turned eager subject.
He had taken me to my favourite forest, the ocean, and even space. I've ridden unicorns through a meadow full of wildflowers and gone swimming in the crystal clear lakes in the mountains all without ever leaving my Toronto apartment. Hypnaughtist, or Liam as I now call him, wants me to experience every possible experience I can think of wanting to try since the restrictions of the physical world don't hold the same weight in the subconscious. I must say, it does make me curious.
I open a tab on my browser to shop for some new shoes when my phone starts vibrating. It's Liam.
How would you feel about trying something new tonight?
Something new? We've done something new almost every night since we started talking, with the exception of repeating my favourite experiences, what else could there be. What did you have in mind?
Might be best if we spoke on the phone. Can I call you later?
Of course. What was he planning?
A few minutes before our usual call time I changed into my comfy clothes and grabbed some water in preparation, knowing that Liam would ask me if I had done both before we got started. He's always concerned about my hydration levels though I've never thought to ask why. I sank into my couch and pulled my chestnut hair into a high ponytail. I decide to scroll mindlessly on my phone for a minute, pausing at a video of this amazing looking Korean breakfast sandwich when my phone vibrates.
Ready?
I glance at the clock and smile. Midnight on the dot. Can't say he's not punctual. You know it.
A moment later my phone lit up and one click later Liam was in front of me.
"Hey Stranger, long time no see," I joke.
"Callie, how are you doing? Do you have your water?"
I hold up my water bottle -"Yep and I've already changed. I'm doing well, thanks. What's this something new you mentioned earlier?"
"Excellent. Straight to the chase, huh," he asks, smirking. His steel grey eyes dance in the familiar way I had grown to like.
"I will say, the idea has occupied my mind all day trying to figure out what you were up to..."
"And what did you come up with?"
"Riding dragons, having a sword fight in Medieval England, being a neurosurgeon. Oh! Or going clubbing in Ibiza."
"That's an impressive list! We'll have to write those down to try later but they weren't what I had in mind," he said.
"Ok now you have to tell me."
He shifts in his seat and clears his throat. "Alright but keep in mind that you don't have to agree to this if it's not something you're interested in trying. Have you heard of erotic hypnosis?"
"Is it what it sounds like," I ask.
"Yes. I would hypnotize you into a deep trance state but instead of giving you the suggestion that you'll run through a forest I would give you erotic suggestions. Those could be whatever you're interested in trying or experimenting with and because you're in a relaxed and very suggestible state without the normal confines of the conscious mind the payoff can be huge."
My stomach flutters a little and I feel my cheeks warm. "I'm not opposed to it."
"Wait. Really," Liam asks excitedly before regaining his composure. "I didn't expect you to agree so quickly, this would require a lot of trust on your part and even though you are interested there are things to be discussed before we can continue."
I thought about it for a minute, a lot of trust on my part? Of course, that makes sense because hypnosis in general can require trust and given the subject matter, we'd be going to the next level. I just didn't know how to tell him what I'm interested in experiencing.
"I already trust you Liam but I'm having a hard time thinking of a way to tell you what I want. In my experience it's not always been something that's been received well."