Sleep story · water, slow
Sleep story: a boat at anchor, when you are not in the mood — for an overtired night
A small harbour, a rope that creaks, and a boat that moves about a metre in the night.
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 hull moves against the water in a slow, regular way. The bunk is narrow, and you have the whole of it. The rope to the anchor creaks as the boat turns very slightly.
The blanket smells faintly of salt and diesel. There is a torch hanging by the hatch, and a chart folded on the table. The boat is anchored in eight metres of water, and the chain makes a sound as it moves.
Notice the places where your body touches the bed, and let them be heavy. Let your breathing get slower without deciding to slow it.
Feel the weight of your head on the pillow. Feel the top of your head relax into the pillow.
Everything in the cabin is stowed, so nothing rattles. The cabin is low, and you have to bend your head to get into the bunk.
Let your thighs be as heavy as they want to be. Let your hands be completely still.
Notice the pull to make this mean something. It doesn't have to. If your mind is quiet, don't grab at it. Quiet comes and goes too.
Your jaw can drop slightly. Let your teeth part. Your elbows can stop being hinges for now.
You can stop listening properly. Nothing needs deciding tonight.
Slower now. Just the breath. Slower.
Not being in the mood is a normal starting point.
Let the words go now, and take the quiet with you.
12 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for water, slow.
If this story does not settle you, try A field under snow (a sleep story), when you are not sure this will work — for the hours after a late shift, A bus at night — a slow story for the end of the day, when you are too tired to try hard — for a racing mind or An attic room, when you are doing this for the first time — for the hours after a late shift.