by Sarah Hualde
Ivy hopped over to her mat. Her ponytail bounced with every movement. She curled a blanket around her and settled down on her back. Kat laid face up on her mat while Flora, once again, spooned her pillows and draped a yoga blanket over her bum.
Lydia settled in with everyone else. She tucked a rolled blanket under the curve of her neck and another under the back of her knees. Her palms went clammy. She’d watched Averie’s videos with Scout but still did not understand what ASMR was or what to expect from a live treatment.
The lights dimmed. The single log fire, a few LED candles, and a sizeable Himalayan salt lamp lit the shadows with a warm glow. With the click of a remote white noise hummed from the hidden speakers in the room.
On cue, Averie took a long soothing breath and stressed her exhale. She took her tea into her hands and tapped the glass with her long nails. It sounded like mechanical rain and tinkled through the quietness. A few patrons sighed contently on their mats. Others readjusted their positions on the floor.
With one more deep and satisfying breath Averie began her soft speech. “Hello, I’m Averie and welcome to our ASMR session. To get full benefits of our time together, you may enjoy closing your eyes. There will be nothing to see. You are perfectly safe here. So, shut your eyes and take three deep breaths with me.
Here's one deep breath" The crowd obeyed. “Now, two deep breaths.” Again, the crowd submitted to Averie's request, "and here are three deep breaths. Good. That's fantastic. Allow your shoulders to settle onto the hardwood floors. Let the ground absorb all your weight and feel every worry drift from your muscles, up into the air, and out into the breeze. There is absolutely nothing else you need to think about. Just keep breathing, keep your muscles soft, and listen to the surrounding sounds.
Can you hear the fabric of the tapestries as they wave on the night air? Swoosh.Swoosh.Swoosh. Their swaying almost matches the rhythm of our quiet, gentle breathing.
As you continue to let go of your stress and worries let me explain what exactly ASMR is and why it can be so helpful in relieving anxiety and stress. I may even share my story with you if you don’t mind.”
Averie paused and ran her fingers through a wooden bowl filled with small pebbles and river rocks. The clattering of the stones was slight. Every muscle in Lydia's back and neck soothed. From her mat, Lydia could hear Kat mumble ascent to the rhetorical question.
“ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, characterized by a tingling sensation on the skin. Sometimes it feels like tiny firework explosions along your scalp. Other times it's a pleasant chill that flows from your neck to your shoulders and sometimes down your spine. ASMR can be an excellent stress reliever and tame a bout of insomnia or even anxiety.
Not everyone is ASMR sensitive. However, for those who are, an ASMR artist will stir up ASMR sensations in their audience by the use of specific triggers. These triggers are different for everyone and what works best for one person may not for another.
A favorite trigger is a whispered, hushed tone." Averie's already soothing volume decreased as she purposefully made each word breathy and more lingering than the last. She continued, "Even certain syllables can trigger ASMR. Sounds like SKU… SKU… SKU… SKU can create tingles. Words like: so, so, so, so, so also can be enjoyable. "
Averie reached into a nearby satchel and drew out a hardback book. "Tapping is a favorite trigger." She took her long nails and scratched and tapped the surface of the massive tome. Lydia cracked one eye open to check on Ivy. She was resting, glee smeared across her young face.
When the tapping ended, Averie turned the pages of the large volume. Lydia opened both eyes and watched over her friends.
Averie lighted beside each guest and whispered an affirmation over their heads. She purposefully planted every step to create just the right sound. Flora squirmed and seemed unsettled when Averie paced the floor.
Averie carried her jug of tea along with her. She swished the drink around in the container. The sloshing sound made Flora jump. Once the artist noticed her participant’s discomfort, she ceased the sloshing and took a heavy drink, emptying the cup. Averie returned to flicking the rim of her glass with her nails.
Tapping was Scout's favorite sound. She stopped wailing to listen to the gentle tapping. Lydia tried to imitate the taps with her nails and her favorite coffee mug. It wasn't the same. Even Averie's live demonstration wasn't as powerful as her videos. Must be her microphones, Lydia thought. She shut her eyes when she noticed Averie was only one person away from her.
She smelled Averie's patchouli and ylang-ylang oil before she felt her breath by her hair. The aroma of her tea hung thickly in her whisper. It was pleasant and earthy. Averie swept a stray strand of hair away from Lydia's face, without making skin to skin contact and whispered, "You sparkle. You are stardust. You are magnificent." Lydia exhaled deeply as Averie's bare feet returned to her yoga mat.
"Now, ladies, I will turn on some quiet music, and the lights will return to normal. When you're ready, sit up and stretch. Bring your attention back to the room. Please, take your time. I'm in no rush. Thank you so much for allowing me to treat you to this session. It's been my pleasure to serve you."
Lydia felt the light increase through her eyelids. She braced for the glaring brightness and shielded her eyes with her hand before sitting up. Flora teetered on all fours. She untangled herself from her pillow and blankets and blinked at Lydia. Ivy stretched and yawned while Kat shot to sitting the instant the electricity hummed to life.
Maven, suddenly in the room, perched on a chair behind Lydia. Her voice, still scratchy, erased the stillness. "That was wonderful, Averie." She cracked her knuckles before walking over to her cousin. Maven hugged her. Averie returned the embrace with joy.
“Her allergy meds kicked in,” Lydia whispered without thinking. Flora followed her gaze to the cousins.
“Isn’t that sweet,” she responded, “It’s nice to see families acting like families.”
Maven graced Ivy with an apology. “I’m so sorry for my rudeness, earlier. I don’t know what was wrong with me.” Averie gave Maven’s back a forgiving and gentle pat.
“Oh, okay,” Ivy spouted, “thanks. It’s no big deal.”
“I think it’s a huge deal,” Maven said. “We’re all on the same journey. We’re all just trying to live our lives to the fullest. Who am I to get bossy and all up in your aura?” Ivy’s brows knitted, confused yet sympathetic. “And to prove to you how sorry I am, and how much I’d like us all to be friends, I brought you a present.”
“You didn’t need…” Ivy started. Maven hugged her mid-sentence.
"I like you all the more for saying so, but I insist." She escorted Ivy over to a large basket of goodies. Ivy chuckled with joy. "I had to beg Berna to open the spa shop, but I think this makes a decent peace offering." Ivy nodded with her mouth open. She pulled out DVDs of Averie's sessions.
“These aren't released yet!”
"I know. But we had a few copies with us, and I wanted to share them with you and your little girl." Maven's eyes popped in surprise at the hug. Ivy squeezed her and dug through the gift basket.
“Well that was nice,” Kat smoothed her hair back into place.
“I’ll say,” Flora said.
Maven and Averie hugged Ivy farewell. “Ready to go?” Lydia waved to her hostess and led the way to Ethan’s truck. “You sure you’re okay riding in the back?”
Ivy was too happy to care that she’d be squished. The teen nodded, swinging her basket as she walked. Solar lights dimmed as the darkness sucked at their power supply. Flora tripped. Lydia's stomach lurched in response. She was ready to dive to the ground and act as a landing pad for Flora's nesting belly.
"We're good," Flora assured her protector. She held the truck door open, and Ivy slid her basket into the narrow back seat. Lydia had one leg in the car and one toe on the gravel drive when the screaming started. Flora echoed the yell and held her tummy. Ivy, trapped in the back, flipped her head f
rom side to side, trying to assess the situation from an impossible angle.
Quick thinking Lydia retreated from the truck cab and shut the door. She snatched her cell phone through the open window and barked orders.
"Ivy, get ready to drive away if the need arises. Flora, call Ethan. Tell him not to panic but to stay on the line, just in case. I forbid either of you to freak out. Roll up the windows and lock the doors. Ivy, I'll call your phone if I need anything. Stay in the car! Both of you!”
With that Lydia ran back towards the spa cottage. The screaming intensified. At the door, she paused and listened. It wouldn't be wise to charge into a room, blind and clueless. She remained calm even as Berna slid up behind her shoulder.
“What’s going on?” Lydia asked.
“I don’t have the foggiest. I ran up to the Inn to set down a bundle. I heard the shouting on my way back.” Berna’s hand wrapped around Lydia’s elbow. “Don’t you think we should go inside?”
Lydia shook her head. “Are you armed?” Berna lifted a cattle prod to Lydia’s eye line. “Well, that makes me nervous.”
There was no reason to ask if Berna knew how to wield a cattle prod. Berna, raised on ranches, often chased wandering livestock from her field. Still, a long stick charged with electricity made a clumsy weapon.
“Is the slider locked?”
“No, it’s open.”
“It sounds like the scuffle is happening near the fireplace. We might sneak in through the slider.”
The terrified screeching slowed. Hurried words and frantic pleading replaced the screaming. Someone was in trouble. The ladies snuck around the porch.
From the cover of the flowing curtains, Lydia could see a man gesturing in controlled frustration in the face of a shivering Averie. His sentences rode the breeze but only hit Lydia’s ears in chunks.
“… you know… it’s me… how many… don’t listen… she’s not… just run… with me.”
“Must be a crazed fan,” Berna noted, as she charged her prod. “I guess even internet celebrities have them. Just tell me when you’re ready to storm in.”
Lydia quick texted Ivy and asked her to tell Ethan to hurry to the Hive. She hoped the girl was wise enough not to respond to the text but follow the directive. Even a vibrating notification might attract unwanted attention. Lydia secured the phone under her bra strap since her yoga pants didn’t have pockets and slipped off her sandals.
“Wait here. Come in swinging if things get hairy.” She instructed Berna and took one soft footfall into the room.
From inside the door frame, she noticed Averie’s eyes try to understand the situation. Her pupils were wild with fear and unbelief. Her so-called attacker had his hands on her shoulders but wasn't shaking her. His knuckles weren't even white with strain. Averie's sobs were gut churning.
Lydia stood dead center in the room, vulnerable from every side. Even Berna's wand of electric power was a threat. Ethan, her husband, and the town sheriff would be on his way.
From the station, it was a 30-minute drive at a decent speed. From their home, it was 35 minutes. Ethan would need to find a sitter for Scout. Flora and Kat were here, with Lydia, and thus unable to help with the baby. Taking the time to find a reliable sitter would slow his progress.
Where is Kat? Lydia didn’t want to get anyone hurt, but she’d love more back up. Berna was spry and determined, but Kat was agile and angry. Kat would make an excellent sidekick, in this situation. Lydia pondered all these things in less than half a second as she swallowed her fear and opened her mouth in warning.
Before her voice found the air, Maven charged in from the hallway. She launched on the man's back and buffeted at his ribs. Her thighs secured him, and she ripped into him with foul language and threats.
Averie sunk to the floor, sobbing. Lydia flew on the scene. She knelt beside Averie and held her head in her lap. "Are you hurt? Who is he? What does he want?" Her questions went unanswered.
Berna hurled in from the slider, cattle prod waving in the air, warrior cry shredding through the surrounding voices. Maven stopped her assault and watched the formidable Berna approach. The man whimpered and cursed. He flung Maven from his back. She collided with a chair, but not before sweeping the stranger's feet out from under him. He crashed into a pounce position. Berna overshot her swing in the clamoring kerfuffle and grazed Lydia with the tip of her wand.
Lydia hollered, and Averie screeched as the shock ran through them, however briefly. Averie's crying stopped, and she lay stunned, gazing up to the ceiling. Lydia grabbed her wound in reflex. Through watering eyes, she watched the assailant scramble away and escape into the darkness.
"The shadow man always finds me," Averie whispered before passing out.
Maven crawled to Averie's side. She stroked Averie's pink hair with a battle-bruised hand. Her knuckles cracked and bleeding. She'd blasted into the man. Lydia's heart softened toward the cold Maven. She did love her cousin.
“What happened in here?” Kat spat as she entered the room from the front door. Lydia snickered and let her head loll against the wall. She’d talk later.
*****
Flora and Ivy were praying when the truck rattled beneath them. A crashing thud quaked the cab. They both looked up, to see a bedraggled man push himself from the hood. He bounced back into a run and fled farther into the night. They had just calmed themselves when Ethan's car slid up behind the truck. It splattered the vehicle with gravel, and the ladies returned to their startled squealing.
Chapter Three
The dawn came early for Lydia. Her muscles were sore, and her arm smarted from the evening's episode. Ethan slammed a palm upon her alarm clock. "No snooze today! Time for the run!" He jogged in place, waiting for Lydia to get out of bed.
Her eyes creaked open, offended by the light. “Why are you so happy this morning?”
Ethan shrugged and handed Lydia a water bottle. “No coffee this morning, Lyds.” She groaned and flipped her feet over the bed. Ethan exited the master bedroom and disappeared in the bathroom. “I’ll start the shower for you. A good cool shower will pep you up.”
Lydia huffed. Where did Ethan get his energy? Hadn’t he been with her at the Hive until 1 am this morning? Ethan kept his cop face on and his wits about him while he interviewed Averie and Maven. Lydia spent the night laying down on the porch swing.
Averie’s collected calm had not returned. She stopped whimpering when Berna brought her some hot chocolate and a biscuit. Kat’s interview was short. She wasn't in the room for the attack. Ivy drove Flora home after describing the blurred countenance of a man running from the scene.
Lydia sat chewing her cuticles during Maven’s interview. She’d said the man was a fan, just as Berna predicted. “He’s always popping up, disturbing Averie when she’s not expecting him.” Averie had called him the shadow man, in her half coherent whisper to Lydia.
During the last six months, the man’s appearances had increased. There was no restraining order. Neither Averie nor Maven knew who he was or where he came from. He was always just there. He commented online, but never anything threatening or rude. Choosing his words to match the content of other comments he blended with the other reviewers until he signed off. Remember our love, SM.
“Averie doesn’t read the comments or reviews. I censor them for her, as I do her emails and her snail mail. After SM hassled her, I took over. She doesn’t need the extra stress. It influences her work. When she’s anxious, it shows.” Maven had relayed this information to Ethan, during Averie’s interview.
Averie didn’t have the strength to add anything to her answers. Toward the end of her interview, Ethan asked only yes or no questions and clarified the answers from there. Maven filled in missing pieces.
Lydia rubbed the knots clumping at the base of her neck. Her feet screamed at her with every pad toward the shower. Ethan’s handsome smile only irked her. He kissed her forehead and let her alone to awaken fully.
Although the prod's sting had not left
a mark on her shoulder, sometime through the evening, Lydia collected a black eye and a browning bruise on her already scraped hip. Thankfully, it was a day for exercise clothing. She wasn’t sure she’d withstand the scraping of denim on her hip.
While she dressed, Ethan brought a cold pack to the bedroom. Lydia draped it on her injury and resisted the call of her comfy bed. She wanted to stay tucked in. Ethan examined Lydia and frowned. “Well, my hot mama, I’m not sure you’ll be able to run today.”
Were those angels she heard? “Huh?”
"I don’t know if I want to encourage you to tackle the 5k. Your hip is the loudest pain, right?" Lydia nodded, causing her head to swirl like soft serve. "Yup, that’s what I thought. I think your eye will hold you back the most. You might be too dizzy to run."
Lydia grew indignant. "Are you giving the same advice to everyone in last night's scuffle? Or just me?" Ethan's eyes twinkled, and a sly smirk spread his lips. Again, he shrugged. Lydia's shoulder's tightened. Ethan retreated downstairs without another word.
He’s giving me an out. Lydia blathered to herself. She finished dressing in a whirlwind. He thinks I’m too old. He doesn’t think I’ll make it for all 12 laps. Deep within her, Lydia knew what Ethan was doing, and she knew she was the crazy lady falling for his high school drama. However, without her caffeine stimulus, she was unprepared to battle it. Ten minutes later, she sat at the kitchen table, venting to Scout, and tying her running shoes.
Ethan entered the dining room, holding his endurance smoothie, with Ivy right beside him. Both looked ready for action, crisp and clean in their running gear. Their voices grew louder and bubbled over, annoying Lydia and overwhelming Scout. The baby's smile sunk and she furrowed her little eyebrows in concentration. She searched Lydia's eyes for understanding and comfort.
“They’re just weirdoes. There’s no explaining it.” Lydia made her tone pleasant and soothing. Scout offered an unsure spit bubble in response. She stopped eating cereal and fretted her hands. She nibbled their knuckles. Lydia patted the little one’s shoulders and clicked happy noises at her.
