thinking about the tenderness of sleep. feeling so safe and so protected that you allow yourself to slip into unconsciousness. knowing that someone is there to look after you and protect you from any danger that comes your way. you can rest your oh so heavy head with the knowledge that it’ll all be okay. your partner or friend or whoever looking down at you, your face and muscles completely and utterly relaxed. they want to cup your face with their hand and rub their thumb across your face, but they don’t dare wake your from your slumber. what are you dreaming about? they hope that it’s them. there is no threat, no danger- just the soft pillow under your head as your heavy eyelids flutter, trying so so hard to stay open. there is a drowsy fuzziness surrounding you, making it hard to speak. but your partner or friend or whoever presses a gentle finger to your lips and tells you to sleep, drift off into a peaceful slumber. you are so drowsy, so heavy, so sleepy. you are safe and protected. you can drift down, down, down, into the warmth of sleep. they rub a gentle thumb across your cheek, lulling you deeper and deeper asleep. you are safe. you are warm. you are asleep. sleep. sleep. sleep.