Talk Before Sleep

“Our conversations are silly — about nothing, really, less and less consequential.

But they are comforting to both of us, I know.

They remind me of what we talk about before we go to sleep,

any of us, the lazy, low-voiced assurances we offer each other:

Did you turn out the lights?  

Put the chain locks on?  

Is the cat in?  

Are the kids covered?

Always, we’re just checking to see that we’re safe.

I’ve always thought that was the funniest thing,

given the vastness of the dark we lie down in.”

~ elizabeth berg, talk before sleep