Sleep story · water, slow
Sleep story: a boat at anchor, when you are waiting for something — for a restless 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 boat is anchored in eight metres of water, and the chain makes a sound as it moves. There is a torch hanging by the hatch, and a chart folded on the table.
Nothing out here is in a rush, and neither are you. The blanket smells faintly of salt and diesel. The cabin is low, and you have to bend your head to get into the bunk.
Feel the weight of your head on the pillow. Your chest can be still now.
Your elbows can stop being hinges for now. Feel your cheeks let go.
The water slaps against the side in twos and threes. The rope to the anchor creaks as the boat turns very slightly.
Feel the top of your head relax into the pillow. Let your forehead go cool and smooth.
Let your shoulder blades spread out and drop. Let your tongue sit heavy in your mouth.
The harbour is behind you, with three lights still on and the rest dark. The bunk is narrow, and you have the whole of it.
If a song is stuck in your head, let it play in the background. Notice the pull to make this mean something. It doesn't have to.
Let your calves spread out and flatten. Your fingers can stop doing anything at all.
Let the dark be ordinary. Let it all get further away.
Let them. You can stop listening properly. Slower now.
Waiting is dead time you can spend on this instead.
Goodnight. There is nothing left to do.
14 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for water, slow.
If this story does not settle you, try Sleep story: a hotel room somewhere, when you feel restless rather than tired — for waking too early, A kitchen late at night, when you feel restless rather than tired — for a racing mind or A lighthouse at the end of a long day (a sleep story), when you are on your own — for winding down.