Estranged Lovers

15. Duo Meditation

After training, they went inside and had something to eat and drink. They still had about an hour, two at most, before Y/N had to be back in Spain. They went to a special room that was littered with pillows and smelled like incense. The room was dimly lit but you could still tell it was nearly noon.

Stephen sat on the floor and beckoned Y/N to sit down as well.

"I will never be able to think about nothing," Y/N said.

"That's a common misconception. The point is not to stop thinking altogether, the point is to acknowledge your thoughts and just let them fly by. To see, calmly and kindly, that we are not solely our thoughts. And with practice, you will be able to let the thoughts flow by like clouds without lingering on them."

Y/N raised an eyebrow.

"I know, I know... That was my initial reaction as well," Stephen laughed. "But it works, trust me. You'll get to know yourself better, you'll learn to listen to your body. It helps train your mind, create a heightened state of awareness and focus your thoughts."

Y/N sat down across from Stephen. They both sat cross-legged on a pillow.

Stephen began guiding her through this meditation with a low, warm voice to which Y/N could listen all day if needed. He paused between his sentences and spoke lovingly and tenderly.

"Close your eyes. Roll your shoulders forward, and backwards. Sit up straight and just breathe."

Y/N listened intently and followed all his commands.

"Focus on your breathing. Don't change it, just let it be."

The first thoughts started to pop up in her head. She thought about the events that had happened.

She was an alien. Well, at least for the people on earth. Did Stephen think of her as an alien?How come she wasn't green with a giant head like the cartoons?

Quiet! She internally yelled at herself.

"When your attention wanders, as it will, just focus back again on your breathing."

Does he know that I was thinking? Shut up! Breathe... in... out...

"Don't dwell on your thoughts, just let them pass."

Y/N started to move, rolling her neck and her shoulders. Stephen opened his eyes and saw how tense she was. She had a frustrated expression on her face.

Knowing how impatient she can be Stephen continued, "Don't try to be perfect, just let this moment happen."

He saw her straightening her back again, giving it another go.

"Notice the stages of a complete breath... from the in-breath... to the pause that follows... the exhale... and the pause before taking another breath..."

Y/N had the utmost trouble focussing on her breathing, she just couldn't concentrate.

"Stephen..." she said with her eyes closed.

"Hmmm?"

"This isn't working for me," she opened her eyes.

"Okay, some people have trouble the first time around concentrating on their breathing. Let me try something," he said as he stood up.

Stephen walked over to Y/N and went to sit behind her. He pressed his chest against her back, his long legs alongside hers and his arms rested on top of his thighs.

"What are you doing?" she asked half looking over her shoulder.

"This way you can focus on my breathing, it makes it a little bit easier."