Sleep story · travel, anonymous
A hotel room somewhere, when you are on your own — for jet lag
A room you did not choose, in a city you do not have to know.
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 carpet is the colour of weak coffee and absorbs every sound. The curtains are heavy and close properly, which is rarer than it should be. The pillow is slightly too soft, and you fold it in half, which fixes it.
The bathroom light is off, and the fan has finally stopped. The air conditioning makes a low sound that you will stop noticing within a minute. Nobody in this city knows where you are, and that is restful.
Let your tongue sit heavy in your mouth. Let your hands be completely still.
Let your lower back sink down into the mattress. Let your thumbs rest where they landed.
There is a small card on the desk with the breakfast times on it, which do not matter tonight. Your case is open on the luggage rack, half unpacked.
Feel the top of your head relax into the pillow. Let your palms open if they were closed.
If you feel emotional, you don't have to explain it to anyone, including yourself. Notice the exact moment your attention left. You probably won't catch it. That's normal.
Let your breathing get slower without deciding to slow it. Let your ribs stop working so hard.
Let it all get further away. You can stop listening properly.
Just the dark. Nothing here needs following closely. They will find their own way out.
Being on your own is not required, but it does make this simpler.
No more sentences. Just the weight of you in the bed.
12 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for travel, anonymous.
If this story does not settle you, try Sleep story: a caravan by the sea, when you are cold and want to be warm — for an overtired night, A lake before dawn (a sleep story), after a long day — for an overtired night or A boat at anchor (a sleep story), when you are not in the mood — for a night when you do not want to think.