Rock Me Gently
INT. OSTEOPATHY CLINIC - DAY
The tranquil atmosphere remains as DR. ELLIS continues working on DAVID, applying gentle pressure to his lower back. There's a pause, then she steps back, looking at him.
DR. ELLIS
I’m going to try something a little different. Can you sit up and cross your arms, like you’re hugging yourself?
DAVID hesitates, unsure, but follows her instructions, crossing his arms over his chest in a self-hug. He glances at her, eyebrows raised slightly in question.
DAVID
(half-smiling)
Alright, now what?
DR. ELLIS
(smiling)
Just breathe. I’ll hold you, and we’ll let your body do the rest.
She gently positions herself behind him, lightly holding his shoulders and guiding him into a subtle twist. At first, DAVID’s expression shows confusion. The touch is so light, almost imperceptible. He fidgets slightly, expecting something more active.
DAVID
(under his breath)
Are we doing something?
DR. ELLIS
(softly)
We’re allowing your body to feel supported... without pushing it. Just relax into it.
DAVID sits there, still feeling unsure. A quiet moment passes. He inhales deeply, then exhales. Slowly, something shifts inside him, the tension releasing, almost imperceptibly. His muscles stop fighting, and he starts to understand the approach. There’s no force, no sharp movement, just subtlety.
DAVID
(realizing)
Huh… it's like… it’s relaxing on its own.
DR. ELLIS
(nods, smiling)
Exactly. The less resistance, the more your body lets go. It doesn’t need to be pushed. Sometimes, it just needs permission to release.
She holds the position for a moment longer before gently releasing him. DAVID exhales, feeling lighter. He looks at her, a bit surprised at how much of a shift he’s experienced.
DAVID
(smiling softly)
That was... different. But in a good way.
DR. ELLIS
(smiling)
It’s subtle, but that’s where the real change happens. It’s about trust—between you and your body.
He nods, the idea sinking in. She helps him lay back down, continuing the session with the same gentle approach. The tension he'd carried into the room has started to melt away.
EXT. OSTEOPATHY CLINIC - LATER
DAVID walks out of the clinic, the bright sunlight hitting his face. He breathes in deeply, feeling a surprising lightness in his body. There's a sense of relief, the pain in his lower back no longer gnawing at him. He smiles as he heads toward his car.
INT. DAVID'S CAR - MOMENTS LATER
He slides into the driver’s seat, still feeling great. He turns on the car, and as he pulls out of the parking lot, the radio flickers to life. The upbeat, breezy opening chords of "Rock Me Gently" by Andy Kim fill the car. DAVID laughs to himself, shaking his head slightly at the timing.
DAVID
(chuckling)
Alright, I get it.
He taps the steering wheel to the beat, the song’s gentle energy mirroring the lightness he feels inside. The car rolls down the street, DAVID’s mood lifted, feeling like, for the first time in a long while, something had finally shifted.
FADE OUT.