Sleep story · sea, simple
Sleep story: a caravan by the sea, when the house is busy — for a night when you do not want to think
Thin walls, wind outside, and the sound of shingle about fifty metres away.
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 wind pushes against the side of the caravan in long, slow gusts. A clock on the wall ticks with a slight rattle on every second. The caravan rocks very slightly in the wind, which is more comforting than it sounds.
There is a torch by the door in case you need to walk to the toilets in the night. Everything you need is within two metres of where you are lying. The bed folds out of the seating area and takes up most of the floor.
Now feel your whole body at once, lying here, being held up. Feel your cheeks let go.
Feel your heels sink a little into the mattress. Feel your belly rise and fall without any help from you.
The window over the sink has a small crack in the corner that has been there for years. The curtains are thin, and the moon makes a pale rectangle on the floor.
Let your forearms get heavy and warm. Your elbows can stop being hinges for now.
Feel your heartbeat somewhere far away. Let your forehead go cool and smooth.
The sea is about fifty metres away, over a bank of shingle. You can hear the shingle moving as the waves pull back.
You might be planning something. Notice the planning, then come back. If you're irritated, that's allowed. Irritation is just weather.
Let your ribs stop working so hard. Let your feet get heavy first. Heavier than they need to be.
Slower. The words can start to blur now.
Nothing here needs following closely. Follow the breath out, and let the next one arrive by itself. Stay with the weight of your body.
It works with other people in the house. You do not need silence.
The end. Sleep well.
14 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for sea, simple.
If this story does not settle you, try Sleep story: the house after everyone is asleep, when you have tried everything else — for a racing mind, A garden in the rain, when you need to stop thinking about work — for an overtired night or An attic room, when you only have a few minutes — for the hours after a late shift.