Sleep story · travel, anonymous
A bus at night (a sleep story), when you are waiting for something — for the hours after a late shift
Upper deck, front seat, a city going past that you do not have to join.
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
There are four other people downstairs and nobody up here. There is a long stretch of road ahead with nothing on it. You do not have to get off for another twenty minutes.
The city goes past below you, shopfronts and bus stops and people waiting for other buses. The heating comes through the floor and makes your feet warm. You are on the top deck of the last bus, in the front seat, with the whole window to yourself.
Let your ribs stop working so hard. Feel your belly rise and fall without any help from you.
Notice your hips, wide and settled. Let your thumbs rest where they landed.
The driver takes the corners slowly, as if the bus were full. The bus stops and starts with a slow, heavy movement.
Let your calves spread out and flatten. Feel your heartbeat somewhere far away.
Notice the pull to make this mean something. It doesn't have to. If you're replaying a conversation, let it play. It'll finish on its own.
Your fingers can stop doing anything at all. Let your shoulder blades spread out and drop.
Just the weight. Let the room get slightly further away.
Softer. Follow the breath out, and let the next one arrive by itself. Let your attention settle somewhere low, like your feet.
Waiting is dead time you can spend on this instead.
I will stop here. The quiet will carry on without the words.
12 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for travel, anonymous.
If this story does not settle you, try A lake before dawn, when you only have a few minutes — for an overtired night, A bus at night — a slow story for the end of the day, when you want to be left alone — for jet lag or A caravan by the sea — a slow story for the end of the day, when you are doing this for the first time — for a night when you do not want to think.