Arifa Akbar navigates nighttime work while grappling with fears stemming from childhood, including insomnia and the dangers of being a woman alone outdoors at night. Her father's struggle with frontal lobe dementia serves as a painful metaphor for darkness. The challenges of mental and physical health are highlighted for those working nocturnal hours, such as care workers and others in the hospitality industry. Despite these difficulties, Akbar also reflects on the liberation found in nighttime experiences, recalling cherished memories of late-night cinema trips with her sister.
The journey from curtain call to home computer screen is familiar and comfortable for Arifa Akbar, yet it exists close to troubling thoughts and feelings.
A childhood fear of the dark has persisted into adulthood, linking to recurrent insomnia and anxiety about the dangers of being a woman outdoors at night.
Darkness serves as a metaphor for the often impenetrable world of her elderly father, who suffers from frontal lobe dementia and has challenging nights.
For those who work at night, there are severe health consequences associated with disturbed sleep patterns, yet there is also potential for liberation and metamorphosis.
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