The doctor took a sip of water from the glass beside him and then began to speak.
"What happened to Rose just now wasn't an attack it was a phenomenon. Have you ever heard of sleep paralysis?"
"I've read an article or two, but I don't really know anything about it," Edward replied to the doctor.
"I've studied sleep in depth, even before I became a doctor. Around 40 percent of people in the world have experienced a state called sleep paralysis. Of those, 80 percent experience it regularly when waking up. Now, what I'm about to tell you is something you must listen to very carefully." The doctor leaned in closer as he spoke.
Sleep paralysis can be divided into two types: Isolated Sleep Paralysis and Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis. The difference lies mainly in duration. An episode of Isolated Sleep Paralysis usually lasts only about fifteen to twenty minutes, often occurring as one drifts between sleep and waking. But Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis can stretch for one to two hours a far more dangerous condition. What Rose experienced was the first type, the brief and less harmful form. Had it been the recurrent type, in her present state it might even have cost her life. Science itself acknowledges the reality of such episodes; this isn't mere imagination but a medically recognized phenomenon.
The reason for this is that our brain and body are not working together at that moment in time-space, which is what we call sleep paralysis. How does our sleep actually happen? For the sake of our body, each of our brains has instructed the nervous system and muscles inside us that from this time to that time, we must sleep. So, when our nerves and muscles are in a state of stillness and rest, if we suddenly wake up or if our brain wakes up that brief moment is what we truly call sleep paralysis. During this time, when the muscles of our chest and limbs do not move, it feels as if a heavy weight has been placed on our chest.
"Then what about the figure Rose saw? And that hand choking her neck how did that even happen?" Edward interrupted the doctor to ask.
"I'll come to that. First, you must truly listen to what I'm saying. Only then will those things make sense." Edward merely nodded. The doctor continued:
"Sleep can be divided into four stages.
First stage – N1, second stage – N2, third stage – N3, and the fourth stage – REM. The full form is Rapid Eye Movement. The non–Rapid Eye Movement phases are called N1, N2, and N3. When it shifts into Rapid Eye Movement, that is when we call it REM."
It may not be the same for every person. Small variations can be seen. To reach REM sleep, it usually takes a minimum of 90 to 110 minutes. This cycle is what our sleep consists of. By the time we wake up in the morning, we will have gone through about three to five such cycles. The special feature of REM is that our brain is just as active during this stage as it is when we are awake in the morning. This is the stage when we dream. At the same time, certain parts of the brain work more slowly, while others function normally. The part that works more slowly is the prefrontal cortex.
It lies at the very front of the brain. Just beside it is another region the orbital cortex. These two areas are what truly allow us to reason and to make decisions. In a similar way, there is yet another part of the brain: the amygdala. This is where most of our stress, fear, and despair are produced. During the stage of sleep called REM, this region becomes intensely active. And now, the doctor said, I am going to tell you the answer to the very question you asked earlier.
Hearing this, Edward leaned forward slightly, paying closer attention to what the doctor was about to reveal.
"What we forget, or what we hide within ourselves out of fear, is brought back before us by this. At such a time, when we see it, wondering whether it is real or not is natural. It works very slowly at that moment. For this reason, Rose could not recognize whether the terrifying figure, like the black smoke before her, was real or not. Since the form that attacked her once remained in her mind, she saw that black figure as if it were sitting upon her chest in such a state." The doctor stopped speaking. He opened the bottle, poured in two or three sips of water. Edward was deep in thought, reflecting on what the doctor had just said.
" So that's what happened to her. Do you have anything more to say about it?" Edward asked with curiosity.
" There isn't really much more to say. But if you want to listen, I can tell you a bit more. In ancient times, Europeans used to call this phenomenon the night hug. They believed it was caused by an evil spirit. In Japan, it was called kanashibari the Japanese say it is a curse. In India, people call it the sleep demon. Many people have come to me with this experience, seeking treatment. Because they couldn't sleep, they were usually given sleeping pills. After taking them for a while, their sleep would return to normal. During that period, they would overcome the condition."
"It's because I've seen many such cases that I immediately understood what Rose had experienced was sleep paralysis. This phenomenon is not dangerous. But if fear overwhelms the mind during that moment, it can break a person down psychologically. The wisest thing to do is not to be afraid when it happens." With that, the doctor brought the long conversation to an end.
Edward told him he would try to sleep and returned to his own tent. He lay down, but his mind was still occupied with everything the doctor had explained. He tossed and turned, yet sleep refused to come. Finally, he pushed aside the blanket covering him and opened his trunk. Among the things he had brought from Glenferd was a book a novel written by Glenferd himself. Edward switched on his torch and began to read, the faint beam of light falling across the pages.
Outside, the cold breeze and the steady roar of the sea seemed to carry him deeper into the world of the story. He read for nearly half an hour, and at some point, sleep crept over him at last. Closing the book, Edward sank into his bed and drifted off.
To be continued....