A bus at night (a sleep story), when you are waiting for something — for a restless night

There are four other people downstairs and nobody up here. The bus stops and starts with a slow, heavy movement. The driver takes the corners slowly, as if the bus were full.

The city goes past below you, shopfronts and bus stops and people waiting for other buses. You are on the top deck of the last bus, in the front seat, with the whole window to yourself. Outside, someone is walking a dog that does not want to be out.

Feel your belly rise and fall without any help from you. Let your shoulder blades spread out and drop.

Let your lower back sink down into the mattress. Let your thumbs rest where they landed.

The lights inside are the dim blue kind that buses use at night. The heating comes through the floor and makes your feet warm.

Your eyelids can be too heavy to open, and that is fine. Notice the places where your body touches the bed, and let them be heavy.

If a worry shows up, name it quietly and let it sit beside you. Notice if you're waiting for something to happen. Nothing is scheduled.

Feel the weight of your head on the pillow. Notice your hips, wide and settled.

Almost nothing to do now. The words can start to blur now.

Let the thoughts come and go without you getting up to answer. Let the breath be the only thing you are doing. Let the quiet be boring.

Waiting is dead time you can spend on this instead.

The end. Sleep well.