Here's the thing: I was never hypnotised. I was faking it. I moved into a new apartment recently, and the guy next door lived on instant noodles, so I started cooking extra and passing some over. Maybe that kind of thing gives people the wrong idea. He stared at my chest hard enough that I'd already guessed he was into me. “Have you heard of hypnosis apps? They're all over social media.” “Humour me — just look at this image?” Nobody actually falls for that. But things with my boyfriend weren't great and I wanted to see what he'd do, so I let my eyes go blank. “Do you like me?” “You'll do what I ask, won't you?” “You want me to grope your tits, don't you?” Tits, obviously. Is that all that's in a man's head? I assumed groping would be the end of it — instead he went all the way, which is just hypno-rape, isn't it. Playing brainwashed while getting fucked turned me on more than I expected. He got a taste for it: convinced I remembered nothing, he started using my body like a toy, over and over. “You're going to be my girlfriend.” He clearly wanted a sweet, clingy type, and I spent so long building the character in my head that I was slow going under — my heart was pounding, I was sure he'd notice. Playing someone who isn't me turned out to be fun, and I got the soft, affectionate sex I hadn't had in ages. Then I had my boyfriend over and the two of them passed each other in the hallway. I'd never mentioned having a boyfriend, and he was visibly jealous. Next session: “You'll break up with your boyfriend and want to fuck me instead.” He wanted to own me. It was entertaining for a while, but the demands got more selfish and there was no end in sight, so I decided to come clean. We finished like always, I got dressed, and he clapped — then blinked, confused that I hadn't snapped out of it. “I've never once been hypnotised.” “What? Sorry — what?” “Anyway, I want you to look at this image.” I showed him the same picture he'd shown me. Sweet, stupid man went straight under. I thought it was nonsense, but apparently it works. “You'll forget everything that happened between us.” Clap.