Elusive Sleep

This is a little something that originated from a diary entry. It's a semi-fictional piece in that it is not based on a particular incident, but it's something that happens to all of us sooner or later and something that I've experienced many times.

I lie there. Awake with my eyes closed. Perhaps if I pretend to be asleep I will go to sleep. If I just keep my eyes closed I'll drift off. But who am I kidding? My body isn't obliging tonight. My mind is still aware, still active, still thinking about the things I did today and the things I will do tomorrow.

I roll over. No... roll is the wrong expression; I flip myself over angrily. Angry at no-one and nothing in particular. Except for the sleep that refuses to come.

My arm is in the way now. I fold it under my head but it goes numb. I stick it out of the side of the bed but it goes cold. And my shoulder is getting crushed. There in the dark, with sleep eluding me, I contemplate how badly designed the human body is. It's all bits that stick out in odd directions. And what's the deal with snoring? I silently curse the creator as I flip over again.

Now the sheet has come loose from the corner of the mattress. It's wrinkled up under my shoulder in uncomfortable little folds, razor blades beneath me. Dammit!

I throw back the duvet and the blanket with a flair best reserved for the theatre, and rise from my troublesome nest. I can't tuck the sheet back under the mattress where it belongs without disturbing my softly snoozing partner so I do my best to smooth it out. I pull it under my pillow, which I move down, away from the headboard, hoping that it will tame the belligerent sheet. It probably won't work but it will have to do.

I climb back into the bed and check the clock. 2am. I'm cold now; my feet are tucked into each other and my knees are pulled up. But the sheets have remained blessedly warm from my own body heat. It's very welcome against my chilly limbs. My bed is now suddenly cosy. I pull the covers up over my chin and before I realise it the alarm clock is buzzing 6.30am.

I hit snooze. My cocoon is too comfortable to leave it just yet.