5
Selena could tell something had gone wrong. Her mother wouldn’t meet her eye.
“Mom? What happened?” Selena sat up, alarmed by the unreadable look on her mother’s face.
Dr. Parsons told her about the hypnotism. About what Selena said. Shall not. What was that supposed to mean?
“You’ve never heard anyone say that?” asked Dr. Parsons.
“No,” Selena said. “It sounds weird. I would remember.”
Then she thought a moment.
“Wouldn’t I?”
She pressed her palms against her temples, as though she could somehow force her brain to work.
Then she remembered the black dot Dr. Parsons had seen near her right temple. Selena dropped her hands and asked Dr. Parsons if it was still there.
Dr. Parsons stared at the right side of Selena’s head and nodded.
“So what is it?” Selena asked, her voice sound
