The Dream

"Sleep Now!” The doctor snapped her fingers. “Close them down and go deeper asleep.” Michael breathed with that identifiable pattern of a person under hypnosis. The doctor smiled. The tough guys never believe they can be hypnotized, but his brain was just as susceptible to the powers of meditation and suggestion as anyone else. Michael had drifted slowly at first, thinking of Lisa as he absentmindedly followed the doctor’s instructions for entering the maze and was soon walking down a path with vast, formidable walls on both sides of him. There was something else here, something that wove itself into his consciousness. It was frustrating because he wanted his introspection to remain on Lisa but a...presence he couldn't define dictated his existence, but then a voice inside his head told him to relax and his feeling of being unfulfilled disappeared. He stopped at an intersection in the maze, questioning which path to take. A voice told him to go right, but that something...the presence, garnered his attention to the left. He didn't know what, but something seemed to almost pull him in that direction. Again the voice told him to follow the path to the right, for it led to complete relaxation. That sounded like a good idea. He could follow that path and relax and think about Lisa. Even as he took his first step to the right he was indeed beginning to feel more calm. Then an awareness of the presence returned. Whatever it was, it was close and it became essential that he find it...and it was just on the other side of the considerable barrier. The dark and quiet became almost distracting with indecision...his? No, he knew something significant waited for him and had become more important to him than the maze and complete relaxation. He must find a way over the massive fortification, but how? He looked both ways but only saw wall, continuous, seemingly without end. Then he turned and saw what he needed leaning up against the facade of the immeasurable corridor. A ladder, and it appeared to reach to the top of the wall. He walked over and picked it up with ease, pleased with his good fortune at finding it there and re-placed it in his desired direction. He climbed to the top of the ladder and maneuvered himself on top on the wall. Michael looked down and around him, and saw that the maze was colossal and far-reaching beyond his sight. Everything else in his world was dark. What is that? His eyes must have adjusted to the lack of light now because images began to come into focus around him...and he could hear something, too. Something familiar...the ocean? There's no ocean in Cleveland. Stating the obvious and knowing the waves were definitely too strong to be Lake Erie, he surmised he must be dreaming. Was he supposed to be dreaming? He surveyed the landscape and realized he had no idea where he was, but he felt compelled to find out, quickly, or he would miss something important. The maze had been completely forgotten and no longer existed. Instead, he now stood in a desert. He felt anxious...no, not him. The voice. He felt a moment of compassion for the distressed voice, but then activity in his peripheral stole his attention. To his left he saw a car parked on the side of a dirt road. In fact, there were several luxury cars parked intermittently along this dirt road, including a limousine and a van. The sound of the ocean became stronger and he could even smell the salt in the air and he could feel the unmistakable breeze you can only get when close to the ocean. This is no dream. Something occurred to Michael and he looked at the cars again. They were parked unusually, almost in a pattern, and it cut off the road from being used in both directions. Curious, he thought. He was supposed to be learning a pattern, wasn't he? He was convinced it didn't pertain to the cars so he brushed it aside. Someone opened the door to one of the Mercedes Benz and got out. Michael began to feel a little uneasy. Something about this situation didn't feel right and the man getting out of the Mercedes...Michael was sure he knew him. He needed to get a better look at him to be sure. He took a step in his direction but something tugged him back the other way. He glanced behind him, half expecting to see someone there with him. Nothing but dirt road, sand, and patches of desert grass for as far as the eye could see. He didn't want to go that way. He turned to go the other way again, toward the confection of cars, but the pull on his mind to go the opposite direction was strong. The voice. “Michael, I need you to come this way with me.” Frustrated again, he sensed complete relaxation waiting for him down the empty dirt road, but he just didn't have any desire to go that way. He glanced back to the man whose identity he needed to know, but the man was walking away from him now. He returned his attention to the dirt road and realized it wasn't the mysterious man who was moving away...it was him. He was now striding along the dirt road against his will and it angered him. With great resolve he halted his progress and walked the other way. That man was very important. He must know who he was. “Michael, I insist you come this way, you agreed to listen to my direction and I need you to come this way.” Michael was, once again, led against his will down the dirt road, mesmerized by the commanding voice. He vaguely remembered his agreement to obey that voice, knowing it would lead him to complete relaxation and he was a man of his word. He must listen to the voice. He just wished he had a chance to ask Derrick some questions first. Michael spun back around toward the man by the Mercedes Benz...he knew his name. Of course it was Derrick. He was the key to this whole dream and Michael knew he must speak to him now so he began walking toward Derrick with a purpose. “Michael, you will come back!” Not this time. He would listen to the voice and go back down the dirt road just as soon as he spoke to Derrick. “Michael, I'm going to count from one to five, and then I'll say, "Fully aware." At the count of five, your eyes are open and you are then fully aware, feeling calm, rested, refreshed, and relaxed. All right, one…slowly, calmly, easily you're returning to your full awareness once again. Two…each muscle and nerve in your body is loose and limp and relaxed, and you feel wonderfully good.” He did feel better. He was much more relaxed now, but he remained determined and strode confidently toward Derrick. “Three…from head to toe, you are feeling perfect in every way, physically perfect, mentally perfect, emotionally calm and serene. On the number four, your eyes begin to feel sparkling clear. On the next number I count, eyelids open, fully aware, feeling calm, rested, refreshed, relaxed, invigorated, and full of energy.” Michael was nearing the cars now, fully refreshed and calm. Derrick had his back to him, but must have heard him coming because he slowly turned toward him. Michael realized he had no recollection of what Derrick looked like. He was about to actually see Derrick’s face clearly for the first time. Michael didn't consider the repercussions nor did he understand why it felt so epic, but this was the most important moment of his life. “Number five…you're fully aware now, eyelids open. Take a good, deep breath. Fill up your lungs, and stretch.” Michael jolted awake. He looked over to the doctor with accusing eyes. “You were out of my control, Mr. Deshay, I had no choice but to bring you back.” Michael tried to remain calm, but his urgency was obvious, “You must take me back, now.”