Everyone gathered in a circle. Ace started the lecture part of the morning program. They’d just finished the physical segment. Ace’s program for chronic pain and rehabilitation was oversubscribed, as always. Patients were referred from hospitals as far south as San Jose, hours away, because the unique physical and metaphysical training Ace provided was extraordinarily successful.
“Please remember the work we just did as we stand here. We’re only going to stand for ten minutes to feel the interaction of the pelvis and the feet that we just worked on.”
Mostly everyone looked at Ace. Some looked at the floor. Eyes were beginning to close.
Ace launched into his “lecture.” He talked about light. He told them to imagine sunlight splintering under water in a pool, how it makes jagged white lines.
“The splintering of the light as it’s refracted by the water, that’s how I want you to think of what’s going on inside your tissues, muscle and bone tissue.” He Pauses.
“A watery medium is what’s inside. Find a tight spot in your body. Now, think of the splintering light and the sensation of water. Both.” Pause again, looking around. Everyone had their eyes closed.
“Go to the tight spot and search for the sensation of light in water. See what comes about. If you get a blank, let it be that. The go to tightness, feel it, and think of the light and water again.”
Ace walked to the light dimmer to bring in more light. He saw that Jake was peering through the blinds. Jake had been urged and enrolled in the program twice but never showed up. The jock couldn’t see himself as disabled by chronic pain. Ace pretended not to see him.