Sleep story · winter, still
A field under snow, when you are too tired to try hard — for a racing mind
Everything muffled, everything white, and no tracks but yours.
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 fence posts are capped with snow and look shorter than they are. Nothing in this field needs to be done today or tomorrow. The air is so cold it feels dry, and your breath is visible for a long time.
The sound of your own boots is the loudest thing for half a mile. The snow on the branches is holding, and every so often a small amount slides off. The snow came down all afternoon and has now stopped, leaving the field completely unmarked.
Let your lower back sink down into the mattress. Let your forehead go cool and smooth.
Feel your wrists loosen. Let the back of your neck lengthen out.
The farmhouse at the top of the hill has one window lit. There are no footprints anywhere except the ones behind you.
Notice the places where your body touches the bed, and let them be heavy. Let your calves spread out and flatten.
Your fingers can stop doing anything at all. Let your hands be completely still.
A single crow crosses the field and lands on the fence, then thinks better of it. Your hands are warm inside your gloves and cold at the wrists.
Notice any part of you that wants this to be over. Notice if you've been frowning at your own thoughts.
Let your tongue sit heavy in your mouth. Notice how much of you has already stopped moving.
Sleep. Just the breath.
You can stop listening properly. Slower. They will find their own way out.
Too tired to try hard is exactly the right amount of tired for this.
That is the end of the story. Sleep is the next part, and it does not need instructions.
14 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for winter, still.
If this story does not settle you, try A field under snow, when the day has been loud — for the hours after a late shift, Sleep story: a garden in the rain, when you are doing this for the first time — for a racing mind or Sleep story: the night train, if you are doing this instead of scrolling — for winding down.