The Thought That Won’t Let Go

A single stubborn thought refusing to fade even when sleep tries to take over

Thoughts are funny little things. They come and go, floating in and out of the mind like clouds passing through the sky. Some disappear as quickly as they arrive, while others linger just a little longer. And then, there’s that one thought - the stubborn one that refuses to leave, no matter how hard you try to push it away.

All day, the mind is a crowded place. Random musings, silly memories, song lyrics, to-do lists, dress shopping, friend birthday - they all make a brief appearance before moving along. But as the day winds down and the world gets quieter, the mind, instead of following suit, decides to turn up the volume.

Lying in bed, eyes closed, ready to drift into peaceful sleep… and then BOOOOOOOOM!

"Exam!!!!!!! Oh nooooo..... EXAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The peaceful sleep that was just seconds away? Gone. The mind is now wide awake, replaying everything.

"Did I study enough? What if I forget everything? Why did I waste time watching cat videos? What if the teacher gives the hardest questions? What if I forget my pen? Oh no, what if I forget my name on the paper?!"

Turning to the other side, adjusting the pillow - maybe that will help. But no. The thought is still there. It refuses to leave.

"Alright, relax. Just sleep."

Brain: NOPE. Let’s go through every possible worst-case scenario instead.

The ceiling turns into a vast canvas, where thoughts paint colorful scenes of worry and imagination. The clock keeps ticking, reminding that sleep is slipping away, but the thought? Still going strong.

Minutes turn to hours, tossing and turning, trying every possible way to distract from it. But just when it feels like sleep is finally winning…

"Wait… what if the exam has negative marking?! Ha ha haaaa!"

And with that, another hour of sleep is gone. 😅