Sleep story · quiet, books
Sleep story: a library at closing time, when you only have a few minutes — for the hours after a late shift
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
Your own book is heavy in your hands, and you have stopped reading it. The reading room you are in has one lamp left on, and it is the one above your table. The air smells of paper, dust and floor polish.
The carpet has flattened every sound in the building down to nothing. The windows are dark enough now to reflect the room back at you. The library closed twenty minutes ago, and the staff are working along the far shelves, switching off sections.
Let your feet get heavy first. Heavier than they need to be. Notice how much of you has already stopped moving.
Feel the back of your knees soften into the bed. Feel your heels sink a little into the mattress.
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.
Let your forearms get heavy and warm. Let your upper arms fall wherever gravity puts them.
Let your forehead go cool and smooth. Feel the weight of the blanket on your legs.
A book lies open on the next table, face down, which is technically not allowed. The last of the day's light is going out of the high windows.
If you're replaying a conversation, let it play. It'll finish on its own. If you're thinking about the next thing on your list, that list will still be there.
Let the back of your neck lengthen out. Let your thumbs rest where they landed.
Just the breath. The words can start to blur now.
Just the weight. Let the room get slightly further away. Let them.
A few minutes is the whole requirement.
Let this be the last thing you listen to.
14 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for quiet, books.
If this story does not settle you, try Sleep story: the house after everyone is asleep, if you are doing this in the middle of the day — for a restless night, A field under snow, when you are somewhere unfamiliar — for a racing mind or A library at closing time, when you have already had a long week — for the hours after a late shift.