The Induction

As I sat there, my hands hovering over my mom's, I could sense her slipping further and further into a trance-like state. Her eyes had glazed over, and her breathing had slowed to a gentle pace. I took a deep breath, trying to focus on the task at hand. "Deeper and deeper, Mom," I murmured, my voice weaving a soothing melody. "You're feeling more and more relaxed, more and more open to suggestions." I watched as her body began to slump forward, her head nodding gently. I caught her and guided her back into a comfortable position, making sure she was secure. "You're in a peaceful place now, Mom," I continued. "A place where you're completely safe and relaxed. You can hear my voice, and you can respond to my suggestions." I paused, a mischievous glint in my eye. It was time to test the depths of her hypnosis. I wanted to see if she was truly under my control. "Cluck like a chicken, Mom," I said, trying to stifle a grin. Her eyes flickered, and she let out a soft "Bock-bock-bock" sound. I chuckled, impressed. "Great job, Mom," I said. "Now, I want you to imagine that you're a famous singer. Sing 'I Will Survive' in your best disco voice." My mom's face went blank, and then, to my amusement, she launched into a rendition of the classic song, complete with dramatic hand gestures and over-the-top vocal inflections. I laughed, feeling a sense of excitement and power. "Okay, Mom, that's enough," I said, holding up my hands. "You're doing great." I decided to push the boundaries a bit further. "Mom, I want you to imagine that you're a cat. Purr and scratch like one." My mom's body began to vibrate with a low purring sound, and she started to scratch at the armrest of the couch with her fingernails. I was amazed at how easily she had slipped into the role. "Good job, Mom," I said, still grinning. "You're really getting into character." As I continued to test her, I began to feel a sense of unease. Was I playing with fire here? Was I pushing her too far? I pushed the thoughts aside, telling myself that I was just having a bit of fun. But as I looked into my mom's eyes, I saw something there that gave me pause. A glimmer of fear, perhaps, or a hint of uncertainty. I wasn't sure, but it was enough to make me wonder if I had gone too far. I decided it was time to bring her back. "Mom, it's time to wake up," I said, my voice gentle. "You're coming back to me now, slowly and easily." Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at me with a confused expression. "What just happened?" she asked, her voice groggy. I smiled, trying to reassure her. "You just had a little hypnosis session, that's all. Don't worry about it." But as I looked into her eyes, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted, that something was off. And I wasn't sure if I could fix it.