To Sleep or Not to Sleep?

Covers on.  Covers off.  Right leg in, left leg out.  Right leg out, left leg in.  Sleep on my stomach, my side, my back.  My head toward the wall, my head at the foot of the bed.  I’ll lie horizontally, diagonally, and every which way.  Nothing feels right.  What did I do today to deserve this torture at night?  Mentally and physically exhausted, there really is no time to be wasted on such insignificant thoughts.  It’s as if my brain does not comprehend the concept of SHUT UP!1

Please just let me sleep, close my eyes and rest.  My brain rebels and in reply, just thinks about how the air hangs heavily, humidly.  It says my body’s too hot with the covers on, too cold with them off.  The nerves carry the brain’s commands to my legs.  The right leg stays in, the left leg stays out.  Although divided, both halves of my body are unsatisfied.  Too cold, too hot, too cold, too hot.  Who cares?  I need sleep!  The cycle repeats over and over, disabling the chance of a peaceful slumber.2

Constantly changing positions, I feel even more exhausted as my brain drags my body into the position it wishes to try next.  Can’t you just pick one?  It doesn’t matter at this point; it’s nearly two in the morning!  But no, it doesn’t listen to my pleas, to my requests, my wishes.  I beg it to let my body be.  It might be too hot, too cold, not the right position on my bed, but nothing appeals to me more than sleep.  “Why don’t you shut up and let me do my job as a brain?  I’m attempting to find the most comfortable sleeping position.  I’ve only found 36 ways that aren’t.  Settle down,” it condescends.  Covers on.  Covers off.  I don’t think I’m sleeping tonight.3