Can't You Sleep?

“You have just gone to bed. You’re in familiar surroundings, nestling inside sheets and blankets that are steeped in your own smells and memories; your head has found the pocket of softness in the middle of your pillow; you’re lying on your side and as you curl your legs up against your stomach, your forhead tilts forward, and the cold side of the pillow cools your face: soon, very soon, you’ll fall asleep and, in the darkness that engulfs you, you’ll forget everything – everything.

“You’ll forget it all: the cruel power of your superiors, the thoughtless things you wish you’d never said, the stupidities, the unfinished work, the lack of consideration, the betrayals, the injustices, the indifference, those who’ve blamed you, those who will blame you, your financial troubles, the rush of time, the endless waits, the things and people forever beyond your reach, your loneliness, your shame, your defeats, your wretchedness, your pain, and the catastrophes – all those catastrophes – in just a few minutes you’ll forget them all. The prospect comforts you. Patiently you wait.”

From: Orhan Pamuk, The Black Book.

: 27 Dec 2006 11:15 |  Tags: 2006 Citing The Great English |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem