Sleep story · quiet, books
A library at closing time, when you feel fine and want to stay that way — for an overtired night
The last hour, when the lights go down row by row.
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 reading room you are in has one lamp left on, and it is the one above your table. A book lies open on the next table, face down, which is technically not allowed. The clock above the door is the old kind, with a second hand that moves in small jumps.
There is a trolley of returned books beside the desk, waiting to be put back. The library closed twenty minutes ago, and the staff are working along the far shelves, switching off sections. Your own book is heavy in your hands, and you have stopped reading it.
Feel your heartbeat somewhere far away. Let your forehead go cool and smooth.
Your ankles can go loose now. Feel the top of your head relax into the pillow.
Someone is pushing a trolley two rows away, and you can hear each wheel separately. Everything here will still be here tomorrow.
Now feel your whole body at once, lying here, being held up. Your elbows can stop being hinges for now.
If your body wants to move, let it move, then come back. If you're counting the minutes, that's fine. Count them and come back.
Let the space between your eyebrows smooth out. Let your upper arms fall wherever gravity puts them.
Just the breath. Let each breath be a little smaller than the last.
You can stop listening properly. Just the dark. They will find their own way out.
Feeling fine is a good reason to do this, not a reason to skip it.
No more sentences. Just the weight of you in the bed.
12 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for quiet, books.
If this story does not settle you, try A hotel room somewhere — a slow story for the end of the day, when you need to stop thinking about work — for waking too early, An attic room — a slow story for the end of the day, when you are waiting for something — for jet lag or A library at closing time — a slow story for the end of the day, when you want to be left alone — for a restless night.