Dr. Derek Evans sat back and watched his patient's chest rise and fall with deep, even breaths. Her eyes moved rapidly beneath closed lids. Parted lips were indicative of a relaxed jaw. Long legs and arms were stretched out, resting comfortably. Dr. Evans took a sip of water and prepared to steer them into unfamiliar territory.
"Ok, Miranda," he began in a soothing voice, "you are completely relaxed. You have now focused on and relaxed every muscle in your face and scalp... neck and shoulders... chest, arms, abdomen... hips and legs. Your entire body feels weightless. Are you ready to proceed?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"Very good." Dr. Evans sat forward, the better to see his subject. "Now, as we've been discussing the past few weeks, we are going to go back in time to the evening of your twenty-fifth birthday. I will be here to guide you along. Okay?"
"Yes," she whispered again, barely audibly.
"Very well. I will count from five down to one, during which time you will become even more deeply relaxed, and at the count of one, you will find yourself back on the evening of your twenty-fifth birthday, prior to the party." He made a quick check of her eyes and hands to determine the depth of her trance. Pleased with what he saw, Dr. Evans continued, "Five... More deeply relaxed with each exhaled breath. Four... Moving back through time, through the years. Three... Back to your twenty-fifth birthday. Two... More and more relaxed. One. It is now the evening of your twenty-fifth birthday. Describe what you see."
Miranda's chest swelled as she took a deep breath. Dr. Evans felt a stirring response in his pants.
"Andrew." Her voice was softer than usual. Breathy. "He's putting out bowls of snacks and setting up the bar. He sent me back to the bedroom to change. He doesn't like the jeans I'm wearing. He is telling me to wear a short black dress."
"Ok, good. Let's move along to when the party gets going. I'll count to three then you'll be there. One... Two... Three. Ok, now, the party is in full force. What do you see?"
"A few guys from Andrew's office, one of his old fraternity brothers," she answered slowly. "They're standing around a beer keg, laughing."
"Very good, Miranda. What happens now?" Dr. Evans already knew what was going to happen. He and Miranda had been over it ad infinitum. His Dockers were beginning to tent in anticipation and he cursed himself for being a fucking pervert.
"They're drunk," she whispered. He had to strain to hear her, but he couldn't bring himself to interrupt and ask her to speak more loudly. She continued, "Allison and Bobby went home and there are no other girls here besides me. Andrew is trying to show me off, but I keep stopping him."
"What is he doing? How is he showing you off?" Dr. Evans licked dry lips and reminded himself of the number of years he spent in school and the amount of money he still owed for student loans fifteen years later.
"He keeps pulling my skirt up in front of his friends... He's saying, 'Look at this... pussy!' Oh God!" She started to breathe very rapidly.
Dr. Evans interrupted in a calming tone, "You're ok, Miranda. It's all in the past. Remember that I'm here with you now. This time, your twenty-fifth birthday will be different. We're creating a new memory. Now, when you feel my hand on your shoulder, you will once again be fully and completely relaxed." He leaned over and put firm pressure on her shoulder for a moment, seeing her body go limp almost immediately. "Very good. Ok, you may continue."
"He's grabbing my breasts... I keep brushing his hands away. He's annoyed with me now, but his friends are still laughing. He pulls my hands together over my head and tells Gary to hold me that way. Tying my hands. Andrew is tying my hands with white rope."
"Where are you now?" The doctor noticed his voice getting a bit hoarse and took another swig of water.
"In the middle of the living room. Andrew took down the fern and Gary is hanging my hands from the plant hook on the ceiling."
"Ok, Miranda. What are you feeling right now?" Dr. Evans noticed Miranda's skirt had begun to creep up under her bottom. Confirming that her eyes were still closed, he allowed himself a moment to enjoy a glimpse of firm thigh. He felt his wife glaring at him from her picture on the credenza.
"I'm feeling kind of sexy. I've had a couple of drinks, too, so I'm a little more... open-minded than I might normally be."
"And what's happening now?"
"I'm standing here, sort of hanging by my hands. Andrew just came in with scissors and... he's cutting my dress! He cut the bottom hem about six inches shorter than it was. Now he's taking the cloth he cut and covering my eyes with it. Tying it behind my head." She squeezed her eyes more tightly closed.
"Yes, Miranda. Keep going. What happens next?"
"He's cutting my dress down the middle. I can feel it fall open. The guys are all getting pretty rowdy. I hear them..." She took a shuddering breath and continued, "Someone, Andrew, I think, is poking the scissors into my breast. Cutting off my bra. I can feel it hanging now from my shoulders. I can feel the air on my stomach and... nipples. I'm nervous and embarrassed, but this is turning me on, too."
"Good, good. Acknowledge the feelings."
"The air on my skin feels lovely. Makes me feel lovely, actually. The blindfold makes me feel... I don't know. Daring?"
"Excellent. What happens next?"