Sleep story · warm, home
A kitchen late at night for an overtired night
One small light on, a cooling cup of tea, and the rest of the house dark.
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
Someone upstairs turns over, and the ceiling creaks once. A plate dries on the rack with a slow drip every so often. Your chair is pulled out slightly, the way you left it.
The tea towel is folded over the rail, still slightly damp. The tiles under your feet are cold in one corner and warm in another. The clock on the oven shows a time that feels later than it is.
Feel your cheeks let go. Let your thighs be as heavy as they want to be.
Let the mattress take all of it. Let your thumbs rest where they landed.
The kitchen is warm, and the small light over the hob is the only one on. There is no reason to be awake, and no reason to move either.
Let the pillow take the whole weight of your head. Let your feet get heavy first. Heavier than they need to be.
Notice if you're waiting for something to happen. Nothing is scheduled. If you feel restless, that's a feeling, not a failure.
Let your breathing get slower without deciding to slow it. Feel the back of your knees soften into the bed.
Sleep. Let the room get slightly further away.
Let it all get further away. Let them. Follow the breath out, and let the next one arrive by itself.
Choosing this over scrolling counts as a good decision, even a small one.
Let the words go now, and take the quiet with you.
12 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for warm, home.
If this story does not settle you, try A library at closing time for a restless night, A garden in the rain or The night train (a sleep story) for winding down.