Gifts to an Insomniac. (Original writing)

The disturbances which occur when one cannot, for any price, submerge oneself in the oblivion of sleep can have many causes. They can be manifestations of pain, confusion, love, or desire; frustration, anxiety, excitement or joy; perturbation, anticipation, or loss. Insomnia can be a miserable state, can lead one to madness or desperation, but if embraced, can lead one to that place between dream and full consciousness where decisions can be made, puzzles solved, and inaction corrected. In short, insomnia can sometimes bring about the suspension of the daily distractions which keep the human mind from achieving clarity. These five stories explore the states of agitation which prevent or disturb full sleep, and the results of such disquietude. While not specifically intended as bedtime stories, if they lull the sleepless reader towards a state of contemplation, then they serve a worthy end.