Close Your Eyes, if You Wish

I lurched forward as a knee jabbed me from behind.

I turned, ready to glare at the offender but met the mother’s apologetic eyes. I assumed she was the mum. She had an arm around a toddler seated directly behind me. I suspected he was the one responsible for the throbbing pain in my back.

The woman mouthed ‘sorry’. I nodded in understanding before swivelling back around.

The seats were crammed that my elbows jabbed against my friends. My knees literally touched the seat in front. I supposed I should be grateful that it was a toddler behind me. Hopefully that kick was a once-off as it wasn’t like his feet could reach me.

Still, it was a nightmare being surrounded by children for a show. Impatient and needy, their high shrills echoed throughout the auditorium. I didn’t know why parents brought their kids to these things. I doubted babies or toddlers would understand. Plus, their constant wails would ruin the experience for the rest of us.

“I regret eating those Skittles now,” Hannah bemoaned from my right.
Roxy snickered from my left. “That’s what you get for not sharing. Right, Sara?”
I rolled my eyes. I was often caught between my two best friends who constantly bickered with one another.
“The show’s only thirty minutes, we’ll be out of here soon,” I replied.
“This better be worth the money,” Roxy sighed.
“You’re the one who booked us all tickets after you saw the ‘raving review’ on social media!” exclaimed Hannah.
“So it’s my money, right?”

I inwardly groaned and wondered if it was wise selecting the middle seat. I was usually the pacifier, but this time, I didn’t anticipate the limited space for them to wage their battles. They leaned over me so that even if I sunk back into the hard, plastic chair, I couldn’t avoid their petty squabbles. Still, I grew up with them and couldn’t imagine my life without them.

Suddenly the room was engulfed in darkness. The babies’ cries ebbed away until only silence remained.

A blink later, a beam illuminated the mentalist standing on the middle of the stage.

Dressed in an elegant black suit and bowed, his face was concealed. His image was also hidden in advertisements, heightening the mystery and intrigue. A white gloved hand rested on his top hat, and my eyes were immediately drawn to it. The white was a stark contrast against the dim background and his attire.

Had he been there the entire time? How did he enter the stage unnoticed?

I was buzzing with anticipation. My knees bobbed up and down, and I forced them to stop jittering.

Slowly, he stood upright.

I gasped at his beauty.

I’d never considered a man beautiful before, but that was the only word that came to mind. His pale, narrow face was framed by a wavy, black mane. Somehow, this made his large eyes more prominent, like an innocent doe – they were so dark that I couldn’t tell where the pupil and iris started and ended.

He could have been staring at me.

“Hello, everyone.”

Goosebumps erupted on my skin. Deep and velvety, his voice jarred against his angelic features. But its rich baritone reminded me of leaders, and I found his tone comforting.

“Thank you for joining me today,” he continued. His lips curved upwards into a smile, and I smiled back reflexively. I was behaving just like my smitten schoolmates who I always teased. “My full name is Oliver Horatio de la Cruz. A bit of a mouthful, I know.”

Oliver chuckled, another delightful sound that harmonised with the audience’s laughter when they followed suit. I was among them.

“I am humbled that you all consider my show worth attending. I hope to live up to my reputation that precedes me.”

He paused. I leaned forward, completely enthralled.

He closed his eyes and sighed. I mimicked the simple exhale. I was seated close enough to envy those long eyelashes against his alabaster skin.

“I sense uncertainty in this room.”

I shivered. His voice had dropped an octave.

“Today, I want all of you to leave here with clarity and serenity.”

Oliver opened his eyes. I could get lost in his solemn gaze. It was like submerging in warm, black liquid. Potentially dangerous but inviting. Indulgent.

“Everyone, please stand up.”

I scrambled to my feet.

“I’m going to state my observations. If they do not apply to you, please return to your seat and radiate to your peers why you do not relate. This creates an equilibrium of positive and negative energies which is what we need to achieve contentment. It helps if you close your eyes, and I encourage you to.”

There were still no other sounds besides his voice amplified through his earpiece microphone. I slowly closed my eyes.

“You didn’t sleep well last night.”

“In fact, you haven’t slept well for the last couple of weeks.”

“There’s something holding you back. You know what it is. You just don’t want to confront it.”

“It’s okay, you can deal with what’s ailing you. It’ll set you free and you’ll lose the anxiety and sleepless nights.”

Oliver had stopped talking, but my eyes remained closed. All my troubles faded away when I focused only on his deep voice that rumbled with powerful proclamations.

“If your name begins with S, remain standing. Otherwise, please return to your seats.”

Tingles pulsed throughout my body. His words were still relevant to me.

“Growing up, you shouldered a lot of burden. But don’t forget your own worries when you’re busy taking care of others. Who’s there to look after you?”

I saw his point there. As an only child of divorced parents, I was often the go-between: answering probing questions on whether there were signs of someone new, relaying excuses for why the other couldn’t pay the expensive tuition. I attended all their separate social functions yet neither came to my school performances in fear that they would encounter one another.

Things changed on my fourteenth birthday. I received no birthday presents, and both were exasperated and claimed the other was responsible for gift hunting. I was furious and finally realised what they were doing. Since then, I never commented on my visits whenever I came back from mum or dad’s. Truthfully, they enquired more about their former partner than they did about me.

“If you’re…” Oliver’s voice lulled me back into the present. “An only child, remain standing.”

My heart thundered behind my ribcage. Everything he said resonated with me. Was this session all because of me? Perhaps I’d finally found someone who understood me. Neither my parents did. Nor my friends. They never offered to host sleepovers whenever I lamented at the uncomfortable trips between parents. Yet they always insisted I hold a slumber party at whoever’s house I was staying at.

“Your parents shaped you in your early years. Now you’re old enough to make your own decisions, find the path you’re destined to walk. Imagine your wildest dreams come true. Who’s standing by your side?”

My breath quickened. All I could envision was him beside me. Someone who spoke for me rather than to me. Someone who gave me strength to embrace the truth. Someone who encouraged me to place my interests first. It didn’t matter if we hadn’t met before. His ability meant he knew me at first sight.

“You don’t need anyone else except that person. He or she could be seated next to you. Perhaps even in front of you.”

I fidgeted, suddenly resisting the urge to open my eyes so I could see his handsome face once again. That yes, he was in front of me. And yes, he was the one I wanted.

“Now, open your eyes without losing sight of who that person is.”

My eyes flew open in earnest. He basked under the only light in the room. This spotlight presented him like an ethereal figure who didn’t belong in our world.

When my eyes met his, I was startled that he was staring back.

I held my breath.

“Sara, right?” Oliver asked without breaking eye contact.

I nodded wordlessly, pleased he was addressing just me.

I could sense everyone’s eyes on me. I didn’t care. I’d rather they look at me than be transfixed by this mentalist who I wanted all to myself. From my peripheral vision, it appeared as though no-one else was standing. However, I didn’t want to pull away from Oliver’s gaze to confirm if that was the case.

On either side of me, hands grabbed my wrists.

I flinched. My friends. I’d forgotten about them. But they weren’t really good friends if they were never there for me, right?

“Sara…” one of them whimpered as their grips tightened.

I ignored them, awaiting Oliver’s next command.

“You know what do to,” he stated.

I blinked. “Yes, master.”

I curled my hands into fists and yanked them free.

It was time to do his bidding.