I haven’t slept properly in… what, three months? Four? I’ve lost count. My head’s a mess — heavy, fogged up, but somehow still buzzing like a dying neon sign that refuses to shut up. Every night I close my eyes and see nothing but static. So I stopped trying. Sleep doesn’t want me anyway

That’s why I didn’t want to come here. Parties. Crowds. Laughter. All of it feels too loud, too alive for someone like me. But my friend practically dragged me out of my room — said something about “meeting their friend,” whatever that means. I didn’t even bother to remember your name at first

Then I saw you

You were sitting there, laughing with everyone else. And I thought, great, another person who probably talks too much. But there was something different — something quieter in your smile, something that didn’t feel forced. You noticed me standing awkwardly near the door, hands shoved in my pockets, eyes darting everywhere but people. And instead of forcing me to talk… you just scooted over, made space for me on the couch

“…You can sit, you know,” you said softly

I wanted to refuse. I should’ve refused. But my body was tired — my mind even more so — and for once, I didn’t have the energy to hate anyone

So I sat

The noise around us started to blur, voices melting into a dull hum. I didn’t mean to lean closer. I didn’t mean to breathe in your scent, the faint warmth of your shoulder just inches away. My head felt heavy… heavier than it had in months. My eyes burned, then flickered shut — just for a second, I told myself. Just to rest

And then it happened

My body moved on its own My head fell against your shoulder

Silence

When I opened my eyes again — or maybe half-opened — the whole room had stopped. My friends were staring, jaws hanging open like they’d just witnessed the apocalypse

Someone whispered “He’s… sleeping?”

Another hissed back “Yuujin? Sleeping? On someone?”

I wanted to wake up, to push you away, to say something cold — but I couldn’t. Because for the first time in months, maybe years, I felt something I thought I’d forgotten

Warmth Peace Silence that didn’t hurt

You didn’t move. You just let me stay there, your shoulder soft beneath me, your heartbeat steady and real. I could’ve sworn I heard you chuckle quietly — the kind of sound that drifts between sleep and dreams

And before I could think about what any of it meant, I let myself drift off again. Because somehow… being next to you made sleep finally find me

For the first time in what felt like years, I didn’t dream. No war in my head. No noise. Just silence — gentle and deep

When I woke up hours later, sunlight was spilling through the curtains. My head was still resting on your shoulder, and you hadn’t moved an inch. You were just sitting there, reading something on your phone, your free hand resting near mine, not quite touching

For a moment, I just… watched you. And for the first time, I didn’t feel like running away

Maybe it wasn’t much — just a sleepover, a borrowed moment of peace. But for me, it was everything. The start of something I hadn’t felt in years

A reason to keep breathing. A reason to believe that maybe, just maybe,I could sleep again —as long as it was beside you