Sleep story · Sleep

The Orchard at Night

Owen Hale · 29 min

29:00

remaining

What to do, minute by minute

1. Get comfortable
0:00–7:15
Dim the lights, put your phone face-down, and lie down as if you were already going to sleep. Nothing here needs your effort.
2. Let the words carry you
7:15–14:30
Don't try to follow the story closely. Let the images drift past — half-listening is exactly right.
3. Soften the body
14:30–21:45
Unclench your jaw, drop your shoulders into the bed, and let your breathing slow on its own.
4. Drift
21:45–29:00
If you fall asleep before the end, the session has done its job. If you're still awake, just keep resting — that counts too.

Rows of old trees, a ladder left standing, and a long dark.

The pickers had gone home at dusk and left one ladder leaning in the eighth row. Fruit that had not been reached hung on in the dark. Mice moved through the grass with great seriousness. Every so often an apple gave up and fell, and the sound went nowhere. The orchard did this every night, whether anyone stayed to hear it or not.