Sleep story · warm, home
Sleep story: a kitchen late at night, if you are doing this instead of scrolling — for winding down
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
A plate dries on the rack with a slow drip every so often. The kitchen is warm, and the small light over the hob is the only one on. Your chair is pulled out slightly, the way you left it.
The tiles under your feet are cold in one corner and warm in another. Through the window you can see the back garden, which is doing nothing at all. The fridge motor stops, and the room gets even quieter.
Feel the weight of your head on the pillow. Feel the top of your head relax into the pillow.
Your ankles can go loose now. Let your lower back sink down into the mattress.
There is a cup of tea beside you that has gone past drinking temperature. There is no reason to be awake, and no reason to move either.
Let your tongue sit heavy in your mouth. Notice the places where your body touches the bed, and let them be heavy.
If you're distracted by a sound, let the sound be the object for a moment. If you're replaying a conversation, let it play. It'll finish on its own.
Let the mattress take all of it. Notice how much of you has already stopped moving.
They will find their own way out. Softer.
Leave it there. You do not have to count them. Stay.
Choosing this over scrolling counts as a good decision, even a small one.
Let everything get quiet, including this.
12 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for warm, home.