Sleep story · water, slow
A boat at anchor, when the weather has kept you inside — 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 bunk is narrow, and you have the whole of it. The blanket smells faintly of salt and diesel. The harbour is behind you, with three lights still on and the rest dark.
The boat is anchored in eight metres of water, and the chain makes a sound as it moves. The hull moves against the water in a slow, regular way. There is a torch hanging by the hatch, and a chart folded on the table.
Let your upper arms fall wherever gravity puts them. Your elbows can stop being hinges for now.
Let your forearms get heavy and warm. Feel the weight of the blanket on your legs.
The cabin is low, and you have to bend your head to get into the bunk. The water slaps against the side in twos and threes.
Notice your hips, wide and settled. Let your lower back sink down into the mattress.
Notice any tension that arrived while you weren't looking. Notice if you're being hard on yourself about any of this.
Feel one shoulder go heavy, then the other. Feel the back of your knees soften into the bed.
Let each breath be a little smaller than the last. Let the thoughts come and go without you getting up to answer.
Follow the breath out, and let the next one arrive by itself. Nothing here needs following closely. Slower now.
Bad weather is a decent excuse to stay in and do this.
Let everything get quiet, including this.
12 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for water, slow.
If this story does not settle you, try The night train, when you feel restless rather than tired — for a racing mind, A kitchen late at night, when you feel fine and want to stay that way — for a night when you do not want to think or Sleep story: a boat at anchor, when you are not in the mood — for a racing mind.