“And you might not be today either. We’ll just give it a try and see how it goes. If we succeed, you will remember everything about this session. There’s nothing to worry about, Carrie. Even hypnotized, you cannot be made to do anything that you don’t want to do.”
Sam dimmed the lights.
She shifted on the sofa, getting into a more comfortable position.
“Just relax. Close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. In and out. Nice and slow. Imagine the waves of the ocean coming in and going out. Nice and slow. The color of the sand darkening as the water covers the tiny particles and then lightening as the sun warms the beach. Breathe in as the waves come in. And breathe out as the waves go out. Feel the sun on your face and the warm water around your body. You are very relaxed.”
She continued listening to Sam’s soothing voice. She felt like she was floating.
“Just let your feet relax, and your legs relax. Feel your hips and waist softening. Every bit of tension melting away. No fears. No worries. Feel your chest relaxing, and your arms relaxing. Breathing in and out. Your shoulders relaxing, and your neck and head relaxing. Feel your entire body relaxing, all over as the waves move in and out.”
Sam continued talking, guiding her into the air, flying up to a cloud, laughing and full of joy. She was at peace. No stress. No worries. No cares. Totally relaxed.
“Carrie, you are resting comfortably in a deep, peaceful state of sleep, going deeper and faster and deeper and faster all of the time, until I bring you back. You will only accept those suggestions which are for your benefit, and that you are willing to accept. Know you are safe.”
She did feel safe. Completely safe.
“Now, visualize a curtain in front of you. Feel the fabric.”
In her mind, she saw a red velvet curtain that hung from a large rod.
“Behind this curtain is one of your memories, Carrie. It’s a pleasant memory. You haven’t seen it in a very long time, but you know it’s there, waiting for you to rediscover it. When you part the curtain, you will see the past but you won’t be in the past. You will enjoy the happy memory and when you return from this place you will remember every detail. Open the curtain, Carrie.”
Completely at peace, she opened the curtain and saw Matt and Sean when they were boys. They were playing hide-and-seek with her and some other children.
“What do you see, Carrie?”
As the memory grew brighter, she told him every detail. “I’m behind a tree, but Sean found me. I give him a hug. I hear my mom call my name. I run to her. I see her face. I remember what she looks like. She looks like me. We have the same color eyes. My dad is standing beside her with his arms around her shoulder.” Her gut tightened when she saw a younger version of Willie walk up beside them. “Go away.”
“Breathe, Carrie. Feel the water. In and out. The sun on your face. Nothing can hurt you. You can remember everything, but know you are safe.”
She saw the black smoke swirling around Willie, but she wasn’t afraid. “I’m safe.”
“Yes, you are. What do you see now?”
“A fire. Willie is grabbing me and taking me down into a tunnel. The smoke is all around us. I’m coughing and coughing. My eyes burn.”
Sam guided her to more doors and curtains, returning all her lost memories to her.
“One final door, Carrie, before I bring you back. This is the door to yesterday, when you were playing paintball and shot Ethel. Open the door and see what happened.”
“I answered my cell and heard Willie’s voice.” All the time she’d lost came back to her. Yelling for Ethel to call 9-1-1. Running into the kitchen and finding Janet on the floor. Kicking Willie in the groin when he reached for his gun. Trying to break free from the bastard when he was choking her. “I saw Josh and Jacob come to my rescue. They saved me.”
“You will remember every memory you saw, Carrie, but always know that you are safe. Now, I’m going to bring you back. I’m going to count from one to five, and at the count of five you will be feeling wide awake, fully alert, and completely refreshed. One. You’re feeling more awake. Two. Even more awake. Three.”
When Sam said five, she was completely awake. She sat up. “Oh Sam, you did it.”
“You did it, Carrie. You did the hard work. I just guided you.”
Thrilled beyond belief, she leapt from the sofa and hugged him. “You gave me back my memories. I remember everything. The faces of my mother and father. I even remember Sean now. Such a sweet boy. He always treated me like a sister. Still does. Oh my God. They’re all back. Even the bad ones, but they can’t hurt me anymore. I’m free. Josh and Jacob are in the other room waiting for me. Do you mind if they come in so we can tell them everything?”
Sam gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll get them for you.”
He opened the door. “Guys, Carrie wants to see you.”
They rushed in with questioning looks on their faces.
She felt happy tears streaming down her face, telling her why they seemed concerned. “I remember. I remember.”