In A.S. Byatt's "The Children's Book," the protagonist grapples with the overwhelming tranquility that surrounds him. Amidst the profound silence, he contemplates the difficulty of finding rest when such solitude envelops him. Despite this inner turmoil, he yields to exhaustion, stretching out and falling asleep almost instantaneously.

As he transitions in and out of sleep, he embraces the darkness and quietude, finding solace in returning to that stillness. Each awakening signals a brief reconnection with both the external world and his internal landscape, highlighting a complex relationship with solitude and the heart of peace that comes from it.