The Hypomosis Experiment

The morning flew by in a blur, filled with glitter, magic, and sugar!

Aria wore her favorite princess tutu over her pajamas. She stuffed all her toys into her train and set off on an adventure, where she was the warrior princess saving her kingdom from lava.

She dipped chips into strawberry yogurt, poured orange juice into her tea set, and drew a treasure map on the kitchen floor with chocolate syrup.

No one stopped her.

From the living room, Mira whispered with a soft smile, “It’s going to be a pain to clean up, but look at the twinkle in her eyes”

Oren nodded. “Best we can do for her.” He kept watching Aria out of the corner of his eye.

Around noon, Aria’s tummy rumbled. She wandered back into the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge. Her hands went to the veggie sticks first, but then she suddenly remembering: “I don’t have to follow any rules. Ms. Rosemary isn’t here to tell me to eat my veggies first. I can eat whatever I want.”

She then spotted the chocolate cake she had been eyeing for ages, the one that Mama usually only lets her have a small slice. This time, she cut herself a HUGE piece and sat on the floor, eating with her hands.

“Mmmm… cake for lunch. This is so much better than veggies,” she said to no one, her mouth full.

From her chair, Mira watched Aria. “All this sugar is going to give her a rush soon,” she whispered.

Oren browsed through his emails, but kept glancing at Aria. “As long as she stays inside, it’s all good.”

Mira smiled and turned back to her laptop, hardly able to focus. “Her idea of a “big” slice of cake is still pretty small. Maybe I can indulge her every now and then.” Oren smiled at Mira.

The piece of cake was all gone by now.

Then, just as they had expected, came the running.

Aria the Wonder Girl!
Aria the Superfast Express!
Aria the Bird!
Aria the Angel!

With every new avatar, Aria tore through the kitchen and living room, shouting a new slogan each time as she rushed to save the next stuffed toy in danger.

Soon, all her toys were on the floor, rescued, scattered, and forgotten. But Aria kept running.

Then, a new game. She began tossing toys into the air, and trying to catch them.

One toy? Too easy
Two toys? A little tricky.
Three or more?
“Now this is magic,” she declared.

Her parents were watching from the living room with growing concern.

Mira had one hand on Oren’s forearm, holding him in place, gently but firmly.

“No matter what happens, we won’t go to her. Let the game play itself out,” she whispered.

Oren’s voice trembled. “She could get hurt.”

Mira nodded slightly. “Yes, but she’ll be fine,” she said, even though she didn’t believe her own words. Her eyes stayed locked on Aria. 

It was almost like they saw the future.

Just then, Aria slipped on a toy she had dropped earlier.

Her foot skidded forward, and she tumbles on to the living room floor.

THUD.

Silence.

Then:

“Owwwww!!!!”

Her lower lip trembled.

And suddenly, she wasn’t having fun anymore.