Sleepless night

Insomnia induced writing

It looks at me with a blank incredulity. Gazing down at me all night with its one eye, bathing my room in a harsh fluorescent light, unending, unwavering. It could be a million other rooms across the dark city, a million other people’s lives its gazing into who like me are wandering the sleepless night and a million other stories. But not tonight. Tonight its gaze is fixed on me. Will I not suffice?

My gaze drifts down from the tube light in my room and huddled around it, seeking its warmth are the insects. Surrounding the radiant light they are in formation, an army waiting to go to war. The thought flickers across my mind that maybe I should try to be a little more cleanlier so as not to make my room a suitable home for such an infestation but then again old habits die hard. And im lazy.

Its another one of those nights. Nights that stretch away into the day in a haze, endlessly and fleetingly. Nights where sleep is a luxury and fatigue, a burden bearing down on your bones. This is my 12th sleepless night. It began innocuously enough, lying and tossing around on my bed, willing myself to go to sleep. Guess my will wasn’t strong enough. 3 days of lying on the bed and I was fed up. Maybe the sandman has forgotten about me. . Let him come then I’ll be waiting.

So here I am on the 4th night running my gauntlet. Im in my room. Bored. Exasperated. Exhausted. Searching for distractions………

The tv doesn’t excite me anymore. I have watched whatever meaningful shows it has days ago. Now its just filled with endless drivel about the next fashion trend or the latest bollywood song or some crisis somewhere in the world or another. There’s too much chaos in the world. Not enough order.

The stereo plays some disjointed tune or another. And my messenger window is blinking out some message from one of my contacts in the world. Is this what the world has come to? Staying up all night socializing with people as far afield as Sydney, Singapore and Texas? I say something or another and make my way to my window. I need some reality right now. The information superhighway is hell on the eyes.

I look out the window. The view from my room is amazing. Sitting here from my vantage point I can see the fields near my home and see the buildings, some big and some small stretch out for miles in all directions. the city sleeping. Its roads empty and stretching out as far as the eye can see, waiting for someone. Most people at this moment traversing their own private dreamland, battling their own private nightmares, enjoying their fantasies. Among other things. Unaware that they are lucky. That their mind can get some rest. Unlike mine. What is it they say? “there’s no rest for the wicked?” maybe that’s true. I certainly fit the bill well enough.

Its 4 a.m. now. I decide I cant stay coped up in here for any longer. Not tonight. I creep out, wearing a light jacket. The night air clings to me as I step out the door. Its cold, wet yet comforting. The sudden change reminds me I’m alive. I look up the street. Lit only by a scattering of sodium street lights. Its empty save for a few dogs, roaming around, guarding the earth. And in the sky one can hear on tenebrous wings, the bats. Now is the time when the creatures of the night rule. Am I one of them now?

I start jogging towards the park. There’s not a soul to see. I am alone in my private world. The running has gotten the blood pumping, making me sweat. Ahh what a sweet feeling it is. The crash of cold air on warm skin. I keep running. The night goes ever on.

Reviews

[DarknessPeering]

I love your voice and atmosphere...reminds me how I feel at night...like it's my own private world, quiet and peaceful. I am not an insomniac but I hate falling to sleep, so I can relate to exhaustion. Besides, I like the night so much better lol. I equally love your word choice...tenebrous...incredulity.

[Barbara Walker]

I like your style of writing, like you are talking to me as a friend. Good descriptions in this piece. I enjoyed reading it.

[Zubier_abd]

thank you :)