Recurring Dream
Dr. Walters laid down her notebook and stared at the grumpy man in front of her. As always, Jack refused to lie down during their sessions even though it would help him. A tough nut to crack but not a nut job as he once thought. No, his deepest desires were far more mundane than he believed, especially because she had said so.
The mid-thirties dirty blonde therapist wore a black sweater with a semi-transparent insert that day. It was enough to give an impression of cleavage that wasn’t really there, a tantalizing morsel his eyes tried hard to feast on especially when he thought she wasn’t looking.
“Tell me about your dreams last night…” she said, her soft voice played to perfection. She held a crystalline gold-rose pen in her right hand. Sometimes, his eager gaze wandered there as well, a fact she greatly appreciated.
“They’re always the same, there’s nothing new to tell…” he frowned.
She grabbed the notebook again and pretended to write something. “You seem more agitated than usual today. Why do you think that is?”
“I think it’s because I’m stuck in here with you when it’s more than clear these so-called therapy sessions don’t work at all!” He blurted, a ball of saliva slipping between the cracks of his yellowish teeth.
“No need to be rude, my dear. You’re angry and tired, is that it? Tell you what, if you share your dreams with me, you can be out of here in ten minutes.”
“How generous of you…” He gnarled. “… but I just told you there’s nothing new about them so…”
“Indulge me nonetheless.”
“Fine!” He threw his hairy arms up in the air. “There I was, at the same train station, at the same god-forsaken hour, staring into nothingness as if it were calling me by name when suddenly this petite woman came to me, looked me in the eyes and said…”
“Submit.”
“Yes. Exactly. She always says that. It’s so fucking annoying.”
“What did you do next?”
“I walked away like I always do. When I turned around, she was nowhere to be seen, and I woke up.”
“But you turned around…”
“Yeah, like I always do… I always turn around once.” He shrugged.
“No, you didn’t…” Dr. Walters thought as he glanced at her notes. His recurring dream had changed quite a few times in the last three months. The first time, he slapped the woman hard and walked away. The second time, the slap stopped midway before hitting her face and walked away. The third time, he laughed, hands to the side, and walked away. The fourth time, he said nothing and walked away. Now he was looking back, longing for something more, the truth of the word he tried to hide from. Jack was a common name. Slave was better.
“May I go now?” He stood up, glancing at the door.
“Yes, you may. Thank you for sharing. This was most enlightening.”
“If you say so… I’m out of here!”
“See you next Friday. Don’t forget to continue listening to my anger management program until then.”
“You know, Dr… the truth is I never listened to it once!” He blurted just as he was leaving her office.
“Of course, you didn’t…” she smiled, the thought of the hidden subliminal tracks within making her tingle with excitement. His desires were slowly becoming her desires, worlds were about to change. Just a few more sessions and…
Later that night, Jack finished listening to the file she had given him, eyes drooping, all independent thoughts fading away. He fell asleep right after and had the same dream.
This time, he didn’t walk away.
