[ WP ] It used to keep me up at night , now it helps me sleep .

It used to keep me up at night, now it helps me sleep. The silence, I mean. 
 
 As a kid growing up, I would put my head to the earth to listen to its quiet heartbeat. I'd sleep under trees and open skies; bare feet, dirty skin. Even then, I'd make my own noise. I'd run through the woods hooting like an owl, or cup my hands to my mouth and scream just to see who would come running. I did n't like being alone with my own thoughts. Noises were expressive and alive, to me. They kept me in the present. 
 
 Back when I lived in the city, the roar of the train and the low rumble of its passing would be my lullaby; the bright city lights shining through my window mimicking the stars overhead. Though the tremors would shake me out of bed in the morning, the blaring sirens and the honking taxis sang out my heartbeat. With a handheld music player and the volume pushed to the max, I'd dance around in my living room playing air guitar. My veins were full of caffeine drinks and coffee. I became dependent on the noise to rest. 
 
 Moving out into the country was a hard thing for me. I lived off of noise, off of sound. Now I heard nothing but my own thoughts. I became surrounded by silence... and it was deafening. 
 
 I've settled some into this small-town community, and though it's sleepy, I'm glad for the peace and quiet. I cringe when I think about living back in a noise-polluted city. The silence is sweet, here. I can rest peacefully. 
 
 ^^^fiction 
 
 

