A friend of the night

I haven't slept well of late.

It's been two weeks now.

My friend, Insomnia, is back and I am not sure when she will leave.

She is a friend who requires no invitation; she enters your night-time world and keeps you company until your eyelids can no longer hold themselves open. Sleep comes only for a few hours before the early morning light brings with it your need to attend to the daily routine.

If you've never had her arrive on your doorstep, then you may become agitated and try to shut her out. But it is of no use, she is quite determined to keep you company. In fact, she knows you need her company.

If you're used to her unexpected visits, then you'll find yourself welcoming her in and immediately finding out why she has come. The sooner you figure this out, the sooner she will leave. And the sooner your inner peace will return.

This time she is here to sort out my worries. I do not let my conscious worry, so it is left to my sub-conscious to deal with them and that is why Insomnia is here. She is helping my sub-conscious make to-do lists. When the day ends they stay up late to tick off the completed tasks and highlight outstanding ones, as well as examining how to restore the balance.

Today has been a good day though.

Today the to-do list has decreased in size. And my sub-conscious has allocated a time for when the oustanding tasks can be completed.

Yes, today has been a good day.

Will I see Insomnia tonight? I do not know. I do not worry. She will come if there are more things to be organised. She is a friend. A friend of the night. And I am sure to see her again.

The girl who came and went

She came in the half light, when most of the house was asleep.

She stood in the hallway, close to the door of the boy's room.

She looked intently at the sleeping child.

Would he wake to see her this time?

Her bright auburn hair hung gracefully about her pensive face.

She waited patiently, as patiently as is possible for any six year old.

She fiddled with the ties on her bright yellow raincoat and made squelching noises by stomping her feet in her water logged rain boots.

A smile reached her face now ... Oh how she itched to play!

Should she wake him?

Just then, the boy stirred.

He opened his eyes a little and stared at her.

"Does he see me?" she wondered.

She wanted to speak, but instead she smiled at him.

He smiled back in his dopey state.

Her heart quickened and she was about to go to him, but she heard footsteps behind her.

The girl spun around, ready to flee.

It was the mother, the boy's mother.

She smiled at the girl.

It was a warm smile and the girl stayed to watch as the mother went into the boy's bedroom and sat upon his bed.

She whispered something to him.

He turned over and closed his eyes.

The girl was disappointed, she had come to play.

But the mother was not angry with her.

She looked at the girl with a knowing smile.

"We've met before litle one", whispered the mother.

The girl cocked her head and tried to think.

"At the house where you used to live ..." the mother said gently.

The girl smiled.

Yes, she remembered now. The place where she had been the happiest in her life.

But her parents and baby sister had left some time ago. Instead, a family of strangers with no children had moved in. There was no fun in that!

"It's okay little one", said the mother, "you just need to find your way home."

The girl looked at the mother quizzically.

She did not want to go back to her home. She wanted to stay here with the boy and his mother.

But she guessed the mother wanted her to go now.

She hung her head with sadness, her hair fell carelessly over her face.

"Look for the light, little one, and there you will find others to play with", said the mother reassuringly.

A light?

The girl remembered seeing it.

But she had been afraid.

With the quickness of someone with clear intention, the girl left.

Only the mother was left awake now, sitting on the edge of her son's bed.

She leaned over the boy to see his face.

His eyes were closed, his breath slow and steady.

The mother smiled and lovingly stroked his hair, then she walked back down the half lit hallway.

She hoped the girl had found her way and was at peace now.