How to fill a hot water bottle. (Or, How to get through the night.)

1. Go to the cupboard where you keep all the towels and sheets. It's at the top of the stairs. Take a deep breath and roll your shoulders back. For this will take some effort. Reach up and dig into the mountain of materials. Past the scratchy towels, the creased sheets, the mismatched pillowcases, the marooned sock. Keep feeling until you find something somewhat soft. There might be a bit of matting from lack of use. With a slight hardness underneath. Grab onto it. Firmly. Begin to start pulling it out of its hole. Like a game of Jenga, don't let the mountain get on top of you. It helps to use one hand for steadying the mountain and the other hand for gripping on to the hot water bottle. Carefully slide it out. Take your time.

2. Take the hooded section off of the hot water bottle to expose the plug. This can be the hardest part. To get to the next step, you need to loosen the plug and expose the insides. This may take some time as the plug may be tightly screwed in. Keep trying, using each hand. Don’t forget, the plug will loosen and open up.

3. Holding the now open hot water bottle close to your chest, find your way to the kettle. This should be in the kitchen. It’s downstairs, to the right, and along the hallway. Second door on your left. Push aside the takeout boxes and the empty bottles. Ignore the post-it notes. Reach out for the button and turn on the kettle.

4. If possible, stand and wait for the water to heat up. Look at the window in the kettle. Watch the water shiver and jump as the heat rises. Count to 60 and then turn off the kettle. By now, the water should have reached a stress point but not started screaming yet.

5. Set aside the plug and focus on filling the hot water bottle. Hold the empty hot water bottle in one hand and lift up the kettle with the other hand. Finding all your strength, carry them towards the sink. Rest them both. The kettle needs a solid surface, but the hot water bottle can be balanced on the edge. Try to hold it steady. And give your hands a moment to rest. Rest and steady. You’re almost there.

6. As if in a bowing pose, gently fold the hot water bottle backwards, towards a halfway position, with your hand holding the top steady. Any caught air is released. Now begin to pour the hot water from the kettle into the hot water bottle. Pour steadily. Let the hot water bottle slowly drink in the fresh warm liquid. Let it soothe and warm up the bottle from the bottom up. Stay focused. If your attention wanders, don't berate yourself. Simply bring your focus back to the pouring. Watch as the flow of water effortlessly finds its way into the opening of the bottle. As the water rises, the bottle will expand. Do not be alarmed. Stay steady and keep focused on the water. Once you can see the water levels rising closer to the top, stop. It's had its fill.

7. Return the kettle. Place the plug back in and twist until you feel resistance. Don't shy away from it. Push a little into it and then stop. To ensure no leaking, tip the water bottle over the sink and hold it securely. Let any droplets fall. Let them fall. Give it a moment more than you feel.

8. Once the plug is secure, return the flap over and begin the walk to your bed. It’s back up the stairs and just past the cupboard where you started. Curl up under the covers. To start feeling, retreat into the fetal position and hold the bottle to your body, with your arms wrapped close. Notice the weight and movement of water. Of the heat beginning to flow into your bones. Feel the softness of the hot water bottle cover. Like a childhood teddy bear guarding your home.

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