The Hypomosis Experiment

Oren’s brow furrowed in deep worry, his hands clenched as Aria cried out.

The fall was on the carpet, not the hard kitchen tiles, so they knew she was likely just startled.

Mira, her own heart racing, touched Oren’s shoulder. “She’s fine, just shaken. No injury,” she whispered, her eyes fixed on Aria’s small form. “Let her find her way back to us.” They stayed still, laptops forgotten, watching her closely.

From the floor, Aria blinked again, and looked at them.

“Papah?” she whispered.

Nothing.

“Mama?” her voice softer now.

Still nothing.

Aria’s chin wobbled. “Can’t you really see me anymore?”

Still only silence.

Her shoulders trembled. Her knees pulled up tight.

The magic wasn’t fun anymore.

Now… it was lonely.

“I don’t want to play this game anymore,” she sobbed. “I want my Mama and Papah!”

At these words, her parents were about to give up on the game and rush to her, when Aria suddenly sat up straight.

“I know. I can reverse the spell.”

She remembered the magician at the fair. He had broken the hypnosis by snapping his fingers.

Her parents watched her closely. They could see that she was more startled than seriously hurt, just a small bruise on her knee. They exchanged a quick glance and silently agreed to continue the game just a little longer. It wasn’t as bad as they thought initially. She was fine.

She stood up, wobbling slightly, then shook herself straight, and walked to Oren first.

Aria leaned close to Oren and whispered. “You will be free from my magic when I snap my fingers.”

She raised her hand and tried to snap, but nothing happened.

Her face scrunched in frustration. She had never snapped her fingers before. It had looked so easy when the magician did it.

She tried again, fingers fumbling, but no snap came.

But Aria wasn’t one to give up easily.

“Okay… Okay… not snap because I don’t know how to snap,” she muttered to herself.

Aria paused, thinking hard. The magician snapped his fingers… but her fingers wouldn’t snap. ‘Clapping!’ she decided. ‘That’s my magic!

She clapped.

Oren jolted upright dramatically. “Oh no! I’m late for work! Wait, what time is it? It’s already afternoon! Ari, what happened?”

Aria giggled with relief and hugged Oren tight.

Then she ran over to Mira.

“Mama, when I clap my hands, you will be free from my magic.”

She clapped again, and Mira blinked as if waking from a dream.

“Oh, what happened? I feel like I’ve been in a trance…”

Aria squealed with delight. She threw her arms around Mira.

“I missed you! I missed you both so much!”

Mira had tears in her eyes. Oren gave a quiet sniffle, pretending it was nothing.

“Why, baby girl?” Mira asked gently, keeping her voice steady, not showing all the pent-up anxiety that was rolling through her all this time. “We were right here.”

Oren added, pulling Aria over to him, and scratching his head. “Wasn’t I just eating breakfast? How did I get over here, Aria?”

Aria grinned. “That’s all my magic!”

They all laughed. Mira moved over to sit next to Oren and kissed Aria’s forehead.

Aria leaned against both of them, warm and content. She had her parents back. She didn’t feel invisible anymore.

She thought quietly for a moment, then declared, “I’m not going to use my magic to make you forget me again.”

Oren smiled. “Good. Because we never want to forget our Ari.”

And just like that, the magic wasn’t gone. It was right there, in their laughter, their hugs, and the way they looked at her like she was their whole world.

From that day on, Aria knew that being seen and remembered was the best kind of magic.