Into the Dreamscape

Image by Lars_Nissen from Pixabay



“Alright, I’ve signed your wavers and non-disclosures. Would you please tell me why I’m here? And at 11:00 PM?”

“Dr. Cavner, at Dreamscape Psychological Institute, we’re perfecting
an experimental procedure to deepen the connection between doctor and patient,
and we’ve had some promising results, particularly in the case of non-standard subjects,”
the director of the institute said.

“Non-standard?”

“Severely autistic, or otherwise non-responsive,” said
another staff member.

“I’m still not sure why I’m—”

“The family requested you. And they’re paying handsomely,”
said a third.

“Half of the non-disclosures were from the family’s lawyers.
No one must know who we’re treating,” the director continued. “Our methods have
the only chance of reaching this young man, but the family wants you to conduct
the interview. They are willing to pay triple your normal fee.”

“And the patient is…?”

“Catatonic. He has been for several months now. No one knows
why—they simply found him unresponsive in his bed one morning,” the second doctor
said.

Dr. Cavner scratched her head. “But if he’s catatonic, how
would I speak with him?”

The director spoke again. “You will enter his dreamscape
with our technology, interfacing directly with his subconscious. This will not
be like other interviews, but we will help guide you through it.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“Dr. Phillips, can you bring up the previous session?”

On the monitor appeared a mud puddle extending into
infinity. In the center was a cluster of soap bubbles, each containing a single
item. A young girl in photonegative, a young man, head bowed in a depressive
pose, a bare tree seen in silhouette. Bubbles exploded in monochrome shards as she
watched.

“And this boy is the patient?”

“We believe the tree actually represents his current state.”

Dr. Cavner stood. “Alright. Show me how I go in.”

~~~~~~~~~~
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