Disclaimer: Contains fictional material intended for adult audiences.
This short story was done for a friend of mine, the wonderfully talented artist Psi. This is not the usual type of story from me, but I do hope you enjoy!
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Jennifer held her hand inches away from the dormroom door. A quick rapping against the wood was all it would take to commit to what had previously been a determined plan. Where that determination had gone, however, she could not decide. Probably lost somewhere along the hallway she was considering retreating down. No one would know she had been here. She could put it all behind her and go about her life as it always had been.
But that would only last so long. In just a few days she'd be back in this spot, for the fourth time, her distorted image mocking her as it reflected off the golden numbers fixed on the door. 729D.
She wasn't going to give up this time. Every journey started with a first step. Her body tense, she set her fist in motion and delivered three sharp knocks upon the wood.
The sound reverberated in the hallway more than Jennifer expected, almost catching her off guard. She found some relief in the noise, the finality of it. Her choice was made, there was no backing out now.
She heard movement from inside. She squared herself up to the door, puffing her chest up, her head raised, as much to not look scared to the occupant as she was trying to convince herself she wasn't.
The door opened. A woman stood before her. She appeared young, yet distinguished. Her full raven hair framed her face as it cascaded down just below her shoulders. Her deep blue eyes stared Jennifer down, powerful but not intimidating. When she spoke, her voice was low and with an airy quality. "Can I help you?"
Jennifer felt her head nod as she tried to get her practiced words out. "My name is um... Jennifer. I was told that you could... well... that you could help me, yes."
Jennifer watched as the woman gazed up and down her body. Once their eyes met again, the woman smirked as she swung the door open, inviting Jennifer inside. "Please, do come in."
Hands clasped in front of her, Jennifer squeezed past the offered opening, the woman watching her the entire time.
The room was small, but then again so were all of the rooms at LSU. Unlike most, this one was quite well kept. Everything seemed to be in its proper place, put there with purpose. Jennifer couldn't say the same about her own room.
The sound of the door slamming shut caused her to jump and emit a small squeal. The woman breezed past her and took a seat in the desk chair. "Please, sit," she said, pointing to the lower of the two beds. "And don't mind her up there. She's in her own little world." Her hand raised to gesture towards the upper mattress.
Jennifer hadn't even noticed the girl laying in the bed at first. Her body was almost fully covered by blankets. Only part of her head peaked out, much of which was then covered by the large headphones over her ears. Jennifer gave her no more thought than that as she sat on the plush mattress, sinking in more than expected.
"Now, tell me why you're here."
The request may have sounded rude coming from anyone else, but the woman said it in such a way that almost drove away Jennifer's nerves. Jennifer still bit her lip, most of her attention paid to the white patterned rug on the hardwood floor. "I um... I'm looking for some c-confidence..."
"I can see that," the woman said with a disarming laugh that caused Jennifer's cheeks to redden. "To what end, I might ask?"
As much as Jennifer was sinking into the mattress already, she wished it would swallow her up even more. "There's a... a boy..."
"Ah, a tale as old as time," the woman said. "Tell me about this boy, if you will."
Despite her situation, a gentle smile crept on Jennifer's lips as she closed her eyes. "Well, he's very caring. He volunteers on the weekends over at the animal shelter. Friendly to everyone he meets, even... even someone like me."
"But he doesn't see you the way you want him to?"
Jennifer shook her head. "He um... I'm not his type. He goes for the uh... Confident, sexy kind of..."
"And what of this boy? Is he sexy?"
Jennifer opened her mouth to respond, but couldn't bring herself to do so.
The woman laughed. "Please, dear. It's okay, I know how these things go."
Jennifer let out her own nervous chuckle.
"The question now, is... What are you looking for me to do?"
The woman must have known, but wanted Jennifer to say it. Even so, Jennifer found it tough to unveil. She didn't believe what she had been told at first. But over time, disbelief turned into curiosity, turned into desire. At best, this woman would be the key to Jennifer being with the man of her dreams.
At worst... At worst it was all a prank at her dispense. She didn't know anyone that would want to do that, but the threat was there. Still, she was willing to take that risk. "I was told that you could, um... Ch-change me... That you could make me confident and... sexy."
The word was odd, like it could never belong to her. It was only ever to be used by other people, for other people. Jennifer was the average of every group, something her ex had so cruelly pointed out to her before moving up.
"Mmm," the woman said as she placed a pillow onto her lap. She folded her fingers together over it. "And who told you this?"
"I um..." Jennifer looked the woman in the eyes for the first time since she entered. "Is that really relevant?"
"The more I know, the better I can help, dear."
"It was my roommate, Miriam. When I told her about my crush... about Kevin, she uh... Told me that you could help. She told me what you could do. I-I didn't believe it, but..."
"That's okay. I'm aware of how ridiculous it all sounds to those that first hear of me. But I assure you my results speak for themselves."
Jennifer sure hoped so. She was tired of spending her life alone, or settling for someone that thought so little of her. She was tired of pining for something she couldn't have. Sure, this could all be for nothing, and she would find herself returning home no different. But this woman seemed assured, as if she had all the confidence that Jennifer was missing. If she could only share in that, it could be worth it.
"So," the woman said with a clap of her hands. She swiveled around to open the door to the nearby mini fridge. From within, she pulled out a mason jar filled halfway with a white liquid. "Shall we begin?" She held the jar out towards Jennifer.
"Um..." Jennifer said, grabbing the jar more out of instinct than anything else. A quick study of the contents left her assuming it was nothing more than milk. Still, a raised eyebrow directed at the woman conveyed all the information that was needed.
"A bit unorthodox, I agree, but I assure you that jar is harmless. Some milk and a few herbal extracts, nothing more. You see, I use a form of hypnosis to help people improve their lives. This just helps them to relax a bit, get them into the right mindset."
A tentative sniff seemed to corroborate the woman's story. Although unable to distinguish anything specific, the liquid gave off an earthy, pleasant aroma. In most other circumstances she would have been having a taste. Coming from a stranger that was going to hypnotize her, on the other hand... But surely Miriam wouldn't have recommended Jennifer come here if there was anything unsavory at play.
"There's no obligation, of course," the woman said. "I
can
help, but only if you follow along with everything I say, including taking that drink."
Hypnosis was nothing more than a party trick as far as Jennifer was concerned. She almost felt ridiculous just for humoring the woman by this point. But... it was the 'what if' that kept her from standing up and walking out. If there was any truth to this, then maybe...
She thought of Kevin as she stared into the opaque liquid. She felt his arm wrap around her, claiming her as his own. The two of them together, just the way she wanted. With that image in her mind, she brought the jar to her lips and downed all of its contents.
The drink was cold and sweet. So many subtle flavors coated her tongue as it went down that Jennifer had trouble picking any one out. She found it to be rather pleasant, much like the smoothies her roommate had been set on making the past few days. Once this was over, she had a mind to inquire about the recipe.
That was assuming that everything went well. Jennifer had watched the woman the entire time. If this had been some sort of trick, she would have been smirking at least, if not outright cackling at her devious plot. Instead, the woman hardly reacted. Perhaps a slight change in her smile, but that could have been because Jennifer had shown some amount of trust in her.
"Very good," the woman said as she rolled herself closer, just in front of Jennifer. She grabbed the empty jar and placed it on top of the desk. "Are you ready?" She held out both hands.
Before Jennifer could bring herself to offer her own hands up, she said, "I never got your name."
The woman smiled, her eyes full of mystery. "You can call me Sadie." She grabbed Jennifer's hands from off her lap and held them just above the pillow in her lap.
Jennifer nodded her consent, the most confidence she had shown all day.
"Very good, Jennifer. Now, I want you to close your eyes. Let your whole body relax just a bit. Let the entire weight of your arms be held up only by my hands."
Jennifer let her shoulders sag as she followed the instructions. Sadie began to trace small circles on the back of her hands with her thumbs. As she did, Jennifer could feel a gentle warmth begin to spread from her stomach.
"That's it. Now, first I want you to imagine yourself as you are. Picture yourself standing somewhere you find comfortable, familiar. When that is in your mind, give my hands a squeeze."
Jennifer saw herself standing on her uncle's farm. A warm summer breeze blew through her hair, bending the soybean leaves as it went like waves on the ocean as far as she could see. Nearby, in the grassy fields beyond the fence, some cattle grazed. Her dream self wrapped her thumbs around her overalls and let her lungs fill with the fresh air.
As much as she appreciated her parents for building a better life for her in the city, she still enjoyed the tranquility of where she grew up. She squeezed, and Sadie squeezed back.
"Once you find yourself in that relaxing place, I want you to imagine someone standing right in front of you. This person is you, but rather the ideal person that you want to be. Once you have a clear image of her, give my hands a squeeze."
Like standing in front of a mirror, a spitting image of Jennifer stared back at her. This Jennifer was not dressed like someone that would visit a farm. Her clothes were designed to accentuate her body, not for utility. Her leggings wrapped everything from her waist down, highlighting her curves well. Her dark tank top showed just a bit of stomach, and even a little more of her cleavage.
