The Professor's Couch

It was early morning as I arrived in the reception of Professor Rider's office, I felt nervous of what I was about to go through. Fidgeting, the memory of why I was here kept going round and round in my head. Endeavouring to pull myself together, I tried to imagine what the lady who sat opposite me did for a living, unaware of my rudeness, but then realising I was staring far too much, I stood up walking over to get a magazine to flick through.

 

Luckily the first paperback I picked up, was one about gardening, my all time favourite hobby. I was just about to read an article on how best to grow rhubarb, when the woman behind the reception desk called my name. “Miss Flynn! Ms Rider will see you now,” she announced with a smile.

 

“This is it!” I thought to myself. There were four doors, each one with the name of a Professor on it. Picking up my coat and bag, I thanked the receptionist and made my way, my heart beating fast as I knocked on the door.

 

“Come in.” Said a voice from the other side.

 

Opening the door I walked in, a feeling of trepidation took hold of me. 'Had I done the right thing in coming here? What would I say?

Would what I had to say come out the wrong way?' I thought in dread.

 

“It's Catherine isn't it?” she observed with a beam, coming to stand from behind her desk and shaking my hand. Her smile made me feel a lot more comfortable as I entered. The Professor wasn't anything like I expected, she was one of those people you felt you'd known for years, I could understand how she'd done so well at her job, even though I'd only just met her.

 

“Uh! Yes...I'm a little nervous...I've never done anything like this before.” I clutched my bag, using it to stop my hands from shaking, my heart racing at a million miles an hour.

 

“Please Catherine don't be alarmed, it's nothing to worry about, I'm here to help and listen to you. If you'd like to take a seat, I'll just fill out a form for you to sign.”

 

As she went through all the preliminary stuff and read my form, I looked around noticing the vase of tall stemmed Gladiolus that stood on her windowsill, they reminded me of hot sunny days. The room was relaxing, the peach coloured walls gave a calming feeling to the room. I was drawn to a painting of a meadow of poppies, which hung on the wall opposite the Professor's couch, it drew me in as I thought of actually walking through a meadow of these beautiful flowers.

 

“Right then...we'll begin.” She announced suddenly bringing me out of my trance. “Leave your coat and bag and come and lay down on the couch.”

 

As I made my way over, my hands felt cold and clammy as I thought of my experience and what the Professor might think of me. Laying down I could see the picture of the poppies and it suddenly gave me a restful feeling.

 

The morning sunshine was streaming through her office window, the busy traffic outside a distraction. The Professor closed the blinds and shut the window, there was now a dimness that set the scene for me to begin.

 

“Okay...I'm going to tape this session, as I do with all my clients, so I hope you won't mind?” She said turning on a machine and pulling up a comfy looking chair. The Professor sat crossed legged, pen and note pad in hand ready to take notes.

 

“No not at all,” I replied feeling relieved that I wouldn't have to explain myself again, but just hoping it all came out right.

 

“I want you to relax,” she said in a soothing voice. “Forget everything around you, apart from your experience. Concentrate on my voice and breathe deeply.” Her verbal assurance immediately put me at ease.

 

With each breath, I found myself going deeper and deeper into relaxation. Then...finally with eyes closed, I was focused and ready to begin.

 

“Now Catherine...I want you to go back to that moment when your experience began...on that morning, tell me how it started.”

 

I visualized the scene in my mind's eye, as if I were there once again, staring at myself walking out the front door on that cold, bleak, wet morning.

 

As I started to speak I was no longer on the couch, but feeling like I was having an out of body experience and so I began.

 

“I set off leaving the house at about 10.30am, making my way down the road towards the library, with my books under my arm. The grey clouds were threatening, I had the feeling it was going to hammer it down, but still refused to carry an umbrella, believing they were for sissy's,” I sniggered.

 

“I was just turning into Bridge Street, not thinking about anything in particular, when I felt a tap on my shoulder, looking round I was freaked out to find there wasn't anybody there, shivers ran through me as I tried nervously to pull myself together, every so often looking behind to see if someone was following me, but I was the only person on the street at that moment, so I continued on my way.

 

As I crossed the bridge and the library was in sight, I could have sworn I saw my friend Andrew...it looked just like him. I watched him cross the road and walk down towards the canal. 'No way!' I thought to myself. 'It can't be...he was away on holiday.' I was almost tempted to follow him, but decided I was in no mood for chasing around, after all it could pour down any minute and it was probably just someone who looked like him. He was now out of sight anyway, as the usual busy traffic rushed by leaving me to go on my way.

 

Walking into the library, I smiled at the lady assistant behind the desk, but she just blanked me. I found it quite strange, as normally she would be quite chatty and friendly, but not today so it seems. 'Perhaps she's having an off day!' I thought to myself, as she stared at her computer.

 

After placing my books down on the desk, I walked over to the shelves – wondering what I would read, but not really concentrating on anything except what had happened that morning. I felt a bit dazed and my mind was all over the place, so I took down the first book I came to and went to sit down at one of the many tables available. I noticed there was no one else in the library except me, which I found unusual for a morning, but didn't question it any further.

 

The front of the book read, “Adventure Destinations.” I opened it and turned the pages; stopping at a picture of some mountains in Nepal, they took my breath away. 'How I would love to climb high and take in the views of that beautiful country!' I thought to myself.

 

As I stared at the page, I felt aware of someone stood behind me, wanting to look was all I could think of doing, though after the morning's event I wasn't prepared to show any response, I'd had enough surprises for one day.

 

I stared at the page, half reading, half gazing at the mountains, my eyes became tired. 'Just a quick shut eye...just for a moment!'

I thought to myself.

 

With my chin resting on my hand, my elbow suddenly slipped, as a voice from behind me spoke. “Excuse me...excuse me!”

 

I jumped...opening my eyes, startled and turned to see the assistant stood behind me.

 

“I'm afraid you'll have to leave now, we'll be closing in fifteen minutes.” She said in a matter of fact way.

 

I scratched my head, screwing up my face, not understanding what she was on about. “I...I don't understand, I've only just come in... what's the time?”

 

In a matter of fact way, she pointed to the clock. “It's 5.45pm...we close at 6pm.”

 

'What was going on?' I asked myself. 'I'd only closed my eyes for a second and suddenly I'd lost six hours.' My body felt stiff as I stood up, my brain was racing wondering what the hell had happened. Again I thought I was loosing my mind.

 

In sheer desperation and leaving the book where it was on the table, I took a deep breath and proceeded to the door not wanting to make a fuss or embarrass myself any further, by questioning the assistant.

 

Outside everything seemed much the same as when I entered, though the rain had started to come down hard. My jacket wasn't much use in this weather and I became wet the moment I stepped out. As I made my way down Bridge Street, the traffic rushing passed me at what seemed way too fast in these conditions. My hair dripped water down my face, making me look like a drowned rat, I felt the pressure of an aeroplane passing overhead, causing my ears to pop.

 

Picking up my pace, I finally arrived back at my front door, putting the key in the lock, I quickly looked behind just to make sure nobody was following me, I had become paranoid from the moment I was touched by the invisible hand. Breathing a sigh of relief, I quickly entered the hallway and shut the door.

 

Making my way to the kitchen, my eyes were immediately drawn to the kitchen table, my heart jumped for there were the library books I'd just returned, sitting there staring at me. The shock of seeing them sent me into a whirl, I felt dizzy; my mouth dry, body shivering not only with the cold but with shock too.

 

I needed to talk to someone, but here I was alone. Making my way over to the kettle and glancing back at the books, I walked over to the sink. Turning on the tap and staring out the window, the only sound was the rain hitting the pane, I was suddenly aware the water was overflowing, so I turned the tap off tipped some of the water out and wiped the outside of the kettle dry.

 

As the water boiled, I shivered knowing I needed to get out of my wet clothes before I caught a chill, but finding it hard to concentrate. Taking myself upstairs I headed for the bathroom and stripped off, hanging my clothes over the side of the bath, then made my way to the bedroom. Finding my robe I put it on, the bed looked so inviting, though I needed a hot drink. So I made my way back downstairs and got down a mug from the kitchen cupboard, poured the boiling water in with a teabag, leaving it to steep for a few minutes.

 

Finally I sat at the kitchen table and drank my tea, pondering on the books and the day's events. There was no explanation as far as I could see, none of it made any sense. Tiredness overtook me, as I washed out my mug, so I made my way upstairs to bed. The duvet cocooned me, leaving me warm and comfy, sleep was not long in coming as soon as my head hit the pillow.

 

When I awoke it was dark; realising I hadn't looked at the time, I turned on the bedside lamp and picked up my alarm clock, it was 3.13am, well that was good at least I could go back to sleep, so turning off the bedside lamp sleep came quick.”

 

The Professor broke my chain of thought at that moment. “So...what did you finally discover from this experience?”

 

I'd been so engrossed in my thoughts, that I'd forgotten where I was and so I continued.

 

“None of it made any sense, It was only a couple of days later that all became clear.” I said with a pained expression.

 

“I was sat reading the News paper and read an article, that there'd been a tragic accident in Nepal, a climbing expedition had gone very wrong, three men had fallen to their death. I went cold when I read the names, one of them was my friend Andrew Colter. 'It must be another Andrew?' I questioned myself...but no – because there was a picture of him staring back at me from the page. Not only that but...I paused trying to hold back the tears. When I got around to taking the library books back, there was a notice on the door, saying that Audrey the library assistant had passed away in her sleep two days ago.”

 

I couldn't continue any further with my story, it was all too traumatic.

Tears filled my eyes and my vision became blurred. The Professor realised my distress, so told me the session would be ending and that she was very interested in what I'd had to say. As I sat up, she passed me a box of hankies and gave me a glass of water, then she left me to compose myself, before I left. Now it was all on tape and I felt a lot better for having told her.

 

“I will never forget the experience and in a way I'm glad it happened, as I'd always been a sceptic on paranormal things. This is my story and I hope you enjoyed.”