Sleep story · water, slow
A boat at anchor — a slow story for the end of the day, when you have woken up too early — for a racing mind
A small harbour, a rope that creaks, and a boat that moves about a metre in the night.
Lights off. Press begin and let the story read itself to you, at the pace of sleep.
Screen on or off — we suggest dimming it, or simply closing your eyes after the first paragraph.
The story, in full
The hull moves against the water in a slow, regular way. The cabin is low, and you have to bend your head to get into the bunk. Through the hatch you can see one star, and then the mast crossing it.
Everything in the cabin is stowed, so nothing rattles. The rope to the anchor creaks as the boat turns very slightly. Nothing out here is in a rush, and neither are you.
Feel the weight of your head on the pillow. Let your ribs stop working so hard.
Now feel your whole body at once, lying here, being held up. Your chest can be still now.
The bunk is narrow, and you have the whole of it. The blanket smells faintly of salt and diesel.
Let your palms open if they were closed. Let your thighs be as heavy as they want to be.
Let your breathing get slower without deciding to slow it. Let your forearms get heavy and warm.
The boat is anchored in eight metres of water, and the chain makes a sound as it moves. There is a torch hanging by the hatch, and a chart folded on the table.
Notice if you're waiting for something to happen. Nothing is scheduled. If you've lost track of where we were, you haven't lost anything important.
Let your feet get heavy first. Heavier than they need to be. Your jaw can drop slightly. Let your teeth part.
Let your attention settle somewhere low, like your feet. Let the thoughts come and go without you getting up to answer.
Let the quiet be boring. They will find their own way out. Stay.
Waking too early is a specific kind of frustrating. This helps with the frustration.
I will stop here. The quiet will carry on without the words.
14 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for water, slow.
If this story does not settle you, try The house after everyone is asleep, when you have woken up too early — for the hours after a late shift, The night train, if you are new to this — for jet lag or A kitchen late at night (a sleep story), when you have already had a long week — for waking too early.