When I was a teenager, I had the best bed on the planet. It made me incredibly happy.

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Please note the Tori Amos posters. Because... teenage angst.

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Ever since I lost the canopy 10 years ago, a bed has just been a place to sleep. Not the little safe haven that it used to be.

Especially since I returned home with family and into the cramped room that used to be my little brother's, as he had settled into mine when I moved away at 18.
The room is pretty small, and I have my whole life and most of the contents for a small apartment packed into it.

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As you can see, my bedding was lacking in give-a-damn.

I hadn't gotten new, matching bedding in quite some time. Around 6 years to be exact, and even that purchased set was second hand. To me, things like that always seem like a frill. Luxury but not really necessary.

Is it clean? Does it keep you warm? Good enough.

Well, one day, since I've made a little money on Steemit, I decided to take a poke around on Amazon and look over my dusty wishlist. That was when comforter sets I had long ago looked at caught my eye again.

"Hmmmm... why the hell not?" -Me

I then swiftly realized I had no idea what to look for. Does thread count really matter? What are standard prices for bed sets? I knew I wanted something pretty. I knew that I can't sleep without a comforter. I knew I needed a pillowcase. So I spent far too much time, like I do with any online purchase, reading reviews obsessively and comparison shopping until I found the perfect one.

And theeeeen I got gun shy.

I always have trouble pulling the trigger on purchases for me alone. So I turned to my friends in the MSP Discord for sage blanket advice. Sending my number one selection to a few friends and asking them if it was a reasonable deal. That was when one friend, who has wanted to not be named, told me to send her my address, it is now a birthday gift, and don't give her any lip.

I cried a little. I won't lie.

Especially when it arrived with this amazing message:

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It gave me a serious case of the minnow feel good.

And so, my bed became beautiful.

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And a couple days later, I got a notification from amazon that something on my list was back in stock and ON SALE. For around $15 and free shipping.

Guess what it was?

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BOOM.

That night I stood back, smiled, and took it in. "prettyprettypretty", I whispered, and dove under the canopy and rolled around just a little bit.

And that was when I felt something... I had forgotten about. The REAL reason I loved that canopy so long ago. Why I really missed it but just assumed it was aesthetic.

I felt so... safe. Sheltered. Like I was being protected. There was this comforting closeness, and at the same time, bigness. It was like a loving hug from someone strong. Enveloping you in this sense of "nothing can get me here".

I almost instantly fell asleep, and slept better than I had in... I don't know how long. I don't think I even rolled over once. It was so peaceful. So comfortable. I was in my own little nook in a place that I always feel like I am taking up space that is never my own.

I am sitting under it right now, actually. After the chaos of dealing with my family, nerves shot, frazzled to no end, as soon as I duck under that silly piece of mesh, and sit down on my space sheets, it all washes away. It can't touch me.

I have my happy place back.

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Credit to giphy and imgur for gifs.