A bus at night, if you are fitting this around other people — for a restless night

The bus stops and starts with a slow, heavy movement. You are on the top deck of the last bus, in the front seat, with the whole window to yourself. Your ticket is on the seat beside you, already used.

You do not have to get off for another twenty minutes. The driver takes the corners slowly, as if the bus were full. There is a long stretch of road ahead with nothing on it.

Your ankles can go loose now. Let the space between your eyebrows smooth out.

Let your palms open if they were closed. Let your thighs be as heavy as they want to be.

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

Let your thumbs rest where they landed. Notice your hips, wide and settled.

Let the pillow take the whole weight of your head. Let your breathing get slower without deciding to slow it.

There are four other people downstairs and nobody up here. A streetlight passes across the ceiling every few seconds.

Your chest can be still now. Let your ribs stop working so hard.

The city goes past below you, shopfronts and bus stops and people waiting for other buses. Outside, someone is walking a dog that does not want to be out.

Notice how much of you has already stopped moving. Let your feet get heavy first. Heavier than they need to be.

You do not have to get off for another twenty minutes. The lights inside are the dim blue kind that buses use at night.

Let your tongue sit heavy in your mouth. Feel your cheeks let go.

There is a long stretch of road ahead with nothing on it. A streetlight passes across the ceiling every few seconds.

If you're thinking about the next thing on your list, that list will still be there. Notice the moment you realise you've drifted. That moment is the whole skill.

Let the mattress take all of it. Feel the weight of the blanket on your legs.

Let the room get slightly further away. Let the next part go past without you.

They will find their own way out. Stay. Let the breath be the only thing you are doing.

Let it all get further away. Sleep. Let the quiet be boring.

It is designed to fit around other people’s schedules.

Goodnight. There is nothing left to do.