Ah.
Quiet.
You've been around people all day.
Or all evening.
And now it's just you.
Maybe it was a birthday dinner.
Or a long Saturday with family.
The kind where you hug everyone twice.
It might have been It fun.
usually is.
And you still feel wrung out.
Both things can be You true.
can love people...
and still need to be away from For them.
the next six minutes...
nobody's going to talk to Except you.
And me.
I'll keep it quiet.
Let your eyes close.
Feel how still the room is.
No one is waiting for you to answer.
Your face can do whatever it wants.
Let your cheeks drop.
Your smile muscles have worked hard Let today.
your voice rest too.
Your throat.
The back of your tongue.
You talked a lot tonight.
Or you listened a lot.
Either one takes something out of you.
Your head might still be full of it.
Bits of conversation.
Your aunt's laugh from across the room.
Small talk by the snack table.
"So what are you up to these days?"
Answered five different ways.
The music that was a little too loud.
Everyone talking over each other.
Maybe you're replaying something you said.
Wondering if it came out wrong.
It probably didn't.
And if it did...
nobody's thinking about it now.
They're home too.
Taking off their shoes.
Probably just as tired as you.
Your ears might still be ringing That's a little.
fine.
Let the ringing fade on its own.
Let the voices get Like quieter.
walking away from a crowded room...
down a long Further...
hallway.
and further.
Until all you can hear is Breathe the rain.
in slowly...
And let it out.
Long and easy.
Now picture a battery.
Just a simple one.
Like the icon on your phone.
Right now it's low.
A thin red sliver at the bottom.
That's okay.
It means you showed up today.
Now plug it in.
Quiet is the charger.
All you have to do is breathe.
Breathe in...
and see a little charge flow in.
Breathe out...
and let it settle at the bottom.
In...
the light rising a little.
Soft green, like a charging light.
Out...
your shoulders dropping.
In...
a bit more warmth.
Filling up past the red.
your chest getting softer.
the light reaching the middle now.
Out...
nothing leaking out of it.
Nobody drawing on it.
Feel that warmth in your own body.
In your chest.
Down into your hands.
In...
the light climbing past halfway.
Out...
the red sliver long gone.
It doesn't have to be full tonight.
It fills a little more while you sleep.
That's how rest works.
Just rest now.
Let it charge.
The rain on the roof.
Steady and kind.
You don't owe anyone a text back tonight.
"Home safe" was enough.
The group chat can keep going.
It doesn't need you in it right now.
Your hands are warm.
Your face is soft.
Breathing in...
And out...
Tomorrow you can be social again.
That's Or not.
your call.
Right now...
you're refilling.
Slowly, in the dark.
The charge keeps rising.
You don't have to watch it.
Quiet.
Warm.
Goodnight.