Night

My mind seems to be the most active when everyone else in my house is asleep and I’m laying awake in my bed, listening to owls hooting outside. I find myself doing this every summer and I can’t seem to help it. I’m not even sure what I do at hours like these but my body can’t fall asleep. When I try, I find myself tossing and turning for so long that I eventually give up. My mind is constantly on edge at this time, thinking about everything and everyone in my life. I stay up until the few hours of the morning before the sun begins to rise and am always asked by my questioning mother why I sleep so late all the time. 

I remember I was always the last one awake at sleepovers when everyone else decided to “hit the hay”. This did have some upsides when pranks were played on the helpless ones who couldn’t help but doze off past midnight, only to be woken up by the uncomfortable feeling of whipped cream on their face. I was always the mastermind behind these tricks.

For me, the night is peaceful. If I had the guts to sneak out of my house and drive around in my Station Wagon for hours I would. No specific destination, just wandering around my town with the windows down and the stars in the sky. I would listen to Jimmy Eat World’s song ”23” over and over again until my body had enough and I would sink into my  warm bed and fall fast asleep. Maybe I’ll try it sometime. 

-A