I didn’t sleep much.

Not because of nightmares—

just because my mind wouldn’t shut the lights off.

I listened to the house settle.

Pipes clicking.

Neighbors shifting.

The sound of the world proving it was still here.

Every thought felt urgent,

but none of them knew where to go.

Like a room full of people waiting for instructions

that never come.

I’m not spiraling.

I’m not calm either.

I’m just here—

awake enough to notice how thin the moment feels

when you stop distracting yourself from it.

They say clarity is supposed to help.

Right now it just makes everything louder.

So I’m not fixing anything tonight.

I’m not naming it.

I’m not deciding what it means.

I’m just listening.

Breathing when I remember to.

Letting the night pass without asking it for answers.

If tomorrow hurts,

I’ll deal with it then.

For now,

this is enough.