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Foldable Yoga Mat

US United States
Sustained growth High volatility Early Seasonal (Feb) Forecasted flat Gym & Fitness Product
Foldable Yoga Mat
What is Foldable Yoga Mat?

A foldable yoga mat is a portable and flexible yoga mat that can be easily folded or rolled for convenient storage and transport. It is designed to provide a comfortable surface for yoga practice while being lightweight and compact.

Treendly Index Treendly Forecast Google Amazon
MOM: +48.48%
How much search volume does it get?
Google searches
9.9K/mo
Amazon searches
16.3K/mo

Is Foldable Yoga Mat trending?

Yes. Foldable Yoga Mat growing with a month-over-month change of 1.91% over the past 5 years, with approximately 9,900 monthly searches.

This is a seasonal trend that peaks every February. The seasonal demand is forecasted to decline over the next year.


Why is Foldable Yoga Mat trending?

1
Portability
Foldable yoga mats are lightweight and can be easily carried in a bag, making them ideal for people who travel or attend yoga classes outside their home.
2
Space-Saving
These mats can be folded into smaller sizes, making them perfect for individuals with limited storage space at home or in small apartments.
3
Versatility
Foldable yoga mats can be used for various activities beyond yoga, such as Pilates, stretching, or even as a comfortable surface for outdoor activities.
4
Durability
Many foldable yoga mats are made from high-quality materials that are designed to withstand regular use, ensuring they last longer than traditional mats.
5
Innovative Designs
With advancements in technology, foldable yoga mats now come in various colors, patterns, and textures, appealing to a wider range of consumers and enhancing the overall yoga experience.

What are people saying?

23 threads
AI Insights Mixed sentiment
Discussions around foldable yoga mats highlight concerns about hygiene and comfort, with individuals seeking solutions to maintain cleanliness during yoga practice. Some users express interest in foldable mats as a potential solution but are uncertain about their comfort and effectiveness.
Hygiene Concerns
Users are worried about the cleanliness of traditional yoga mats and how they can harbor dirt when rolled up.
Comfort vs. Functionality
There is a debate on whether foldable yoga mats can provide the same level of comfort as traditional mats while addressing hygiene issues.
Product Recommendations
Users are seeking and sharing recommendations for effective yoga mats, including foldable options.
Alternative Solutions
Some participants discuss using multiple mats or different types of coverings to maintain cleanliness during practice.
Community Support
Users are reaching out to the community for advice and shared experiences regarding yoga mat choices and maintenance.
Common questions
  • Are foldable yoga mats comfortable enough for regular use?
  • How can I keep my yoga mat clean during practice?
  • Has anyone tried using two mats on top of each other?
  • What are the best recommendations for foldable yoga mats?
  • How do foldable mats compare to traditional mats in terms of durability?
Pain points
  • Difficulty maintaining hygiene with traditional yoga mats.
  • Concerns about the comfort level of foldable mats.
  • Struggles with using towels to cover mats during practice.
  • Limited space for storing larger exercise equipment.
  • Uncertainty about the effectiveness of alternative mat solutions.
r/yoga
LULULEMON FOLDABLE MAT
Has anyone tried the new lululemon foldable mat? it looks promising but it's not cheap... https://shop.lululemon.com/p/yoga-mats/The-Foldable-Mat/_/prod11680669?color=65048 submitted by /u/alexacr30 to r/yoga [link] [comments]
alexacr30 · Mar 12, 2026
r/PDXBuyNothing
ISO - Typewriter/Yoga Mat/Bike Helm/Backpack/Exercise Equipm/Lamp/Rollerblades
Hey all! I wanted to reach out and see if anyone had some items I've been looking for for a bit! I live in SE, I can travel to Hillsboro/Gresham/Vancouver/Oregon City/Downtown just fine, and most everywhere in between. Typewriter, can be manual or electric, old is fine, dirty is fine, I just ask that if it has any major mechanical failings to let me know since I don't know if I can repair big issues. Yoga mat/ball! This would be really appreciated, been working on some big health changes since October and finally feel like I'm doing it long enough where I won't just fall off the bandwagon Exercise equipment. This could be a lot of things! I don't have any weights, I have some bands, I don't have any exercise machines. I'm limited in what I can bring home in terms of space, but something that's small like an under-desk treadmill, or foldable could work really well. Desk lamp! It's dark in my corner of the room where I work and write, so a desk lamp would be amazing. Rollerblades. I'm pretty positive my insole length is 9.4 inches, so if you happen to have similarly sized blades I would love to chat. A backpack! Mine finally kicked the bucket this year and is beyond repair for structural damage after about 7 years of daily use. It can be silly looking, it can be basically anything. I just need something large enough to be functional on my commutes and help me keep everything I need for work/class. A bike helmet for a small-average adult sized head! Bonus, if you happen to have kneepads/elbow pads...that'd be helpful also. submitted by /u/YourDeerestFriend to r/PDXBuyNothing [link] [comments]
YourDeerestFriend · Feb 11, 2026
r/PedalBargains
FOLDABLE SILENT RIDING MAT
🤭 FOLDABLE SILENT RIDING MAT 👉 22.95€ 🎄 Christmas on ALIEXPRESS 👌 From Thinkrider, noise, sweat... ⭐️ Rating 4.9 out of 5 ‼️ PRICE 22.95€ 35.49€ ✂️ Code: ESTT03 📦 FREE SHIPPING 🛍 OFFER LINK submitted by /u/Freedoomsy to r/PedalBargains [link] [comments]
Freedoomsy · Dec 19, 2025
r/Bangkok
Foldable Yoga Mat
I'm looking for a good quality foldable yoga mat - preferably in a store nearish DMK airport. submitted by /u/Saltyinkplot to r/Bangkok [link] [comments]
Saltyinkplot · Oct 26, 2025
r/YogaWorkouts
Do you prefer thick foldable yoga mats or the regular thin ones?
I’ve been practicing yoga and light stretching at home for a while now, and I noticed how much of a difference the mat makes. I used to go with the standard thin mats, but recently I came across these thicker foldable mats (like this one on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Mat-1-Inch-Thick-Foldable/dp/B08JYMHLVD?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1) and it got me curious. On one hand, the extra cushion sounds amazing for joints, especially when doing kneeling poses or long meditations. On the other hand, I wonder if it feels too soft for balance poses compared to the regular mats. Has anyone here tried a thicker foldable yoga mat? Do you find it better for home practice, or do the traditional thinner mats still win when it comes to stability? submitted by /u/EvolSail5409 to r/YogaWorkouts [link] [comments]
EvolSail5409 · Sep 26, 2025
r/bodyweightfitness
What’s your go-to for a thick yoga mat that’s easy on the joints?
I’ve been practicing yoga for a while but recently noticed my knees and wrists feeling sore on thinner mats. I started looking into thicker, foldable mats that still stay firm enough for balance, and I came across one on Amazon that’s 1 inch thick and foldable for storage https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Mat-1-Inch-Thick-Foldable/dp/B08JYMHLVD/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis?th=1 I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m curious if anyone here has experience with mats like this. Do they really make a difference in comfort for longer sessions? Or do you find the extra thickness makes balance poses harder? Would love to hear what others are using and what works best for you. submitted by /u/Any-Marionberry4035 to r/bodyweightfitness [link] [comments]
Any-Marionberry4035 · Sep 21, 2025
All threads (23)
Thread Source Author Date
Stakt 2-in-1 foldable fitness mat - Iron
... £115.49 Stakt Mat is a 2-in-1 foldable fitness mat that doubles as... adapts to your needs. This foldable mat is 12 mm thick, offering ... like Pilates, sculpting, and beginner yoga. Its lightweight design makes it ... intense workouts. Unlike standard yoga mats, the Stakt Mat can be folded into a... exercises or simply as a yoga block to enhance your practice. ...
www.hotukdeals.com curryqueen24 Mar 16, 2026
LULULEMON FOLDABLE MAT
Has anyone tried the new lululemon foldable mat? it looks promising but it's not cheap... https://shop.lululemon.com/p/yoga-mats/The-Foldable-Mat/_/prod11680669?color=65048 submitted by /u/alexacr30 to r/yoga [link] [comments]
reddit.com alexacr30 Mar 12, 2026
ISO - Typewriter/Yoga Mat/Bike Helm/Backpack/Exercise Equipm/Lamp/Rollerblades
Hey all! I wanted to reach out and see if anyone had some items I've been looking for for a bit! I live in SE, I can travel to Hillsboro/Gresham/Vancouver/Oregon City/Downtown just fine, and most everywhere in between. Typewriter, can be manual or electric, old is fine, dirty is fine, I just ask that if it has any major mechanical failings to let me know since I don't know if I can repair big issues. Yoga mat/ball! This would be really appreciated, been working on some big health changes since October and finally feel like I'm doing it long enough where I won't just fall off the bandwagon Exercise equipment. This could be a lot of things! I don't have any weights, I have some bands, I don't have any exercise machines. I'm limited in what I can bring home in terms of space, but something that's small like an under-desk treadmill, or foldable could work really well. Desk lamp! It's dark in my corner of the room where I work and write, so a desk lamp would be amazing. Rollerblades. I'm pretty positive my insole length is 9.4 inches, so if you happen to have similarly sized blades I would love to chat. A backpack! Mine finally kicked the bucket this year and is beyond repair for structural damage after about 7 years of daily use. It can be silly looking, it can be basically anything. I just need something large enough to be functional on my commutes and help me keep everything I need for work/class. A bike helmet for a small-average adult sized head! Bonus, if you happen to have kneepads/elbow pads...that'd be helpful also. submitted by /u/YourDeerestFriend to r/PDXBuyNothing [link] [comments]
reddit.com YourDeerestFriend Feb 11, 2026
FOLDABLE SILENT RIDING MAT
🤭 FOLDABLE SILENT RIDING MAT 👉 22.95€ 🎄 Christmas on ALIEXPRESS 👌 From Thinkrider, noise, sweat... ⭐️ Rating 4.9 out of 5 ‼️ PRICE 22.95€ 35.49€ ✂️ Code: ESTT03 📦 FREE SHIPPING 🛍 OFFER LINK submitted by /u/Freedoomsy to r/PedalBargains [link] [comments]
reddit.com Freedoomsy Dec 19, 2025
Foldable Yoga Mat
I'm looking for a good quality foldable yoga mat - preferably in a store nearish DMK airport. submitted by /u/Saltyinkplot to r/Bangkok [link] [comments]
reddit.com Saltyinkplot Oct 26, 2025
Do you prefer thick foldable yoga mats or the regular thin ones?
I’ve been practicing yoga and light stretching at home for a while now, and I noticed how much of a difference the mat makes. I used to go with the standard thin mats, but recently I came across these thicker foldable mats (like this one on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Mat-1-Inch-Thick-Foldable/dp/B08JYMHLVD?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1) and it got me curious. On one hand, the extra cushion sounds amazing for joints, especially when doing kneeling poses or long meditations. On the other hand, I wonder if it feels too soft for balance poses compared to the regular mats. Has anyone here tried a thicker foldable yoga mat? Do you find it better for home practice, or do the traditional thinner mats still win when it comes to stability? submitted by /u/EvolSail5409 to r/YogaWorkouts [link] [comments]
reddit.com EvolSail5409 Sep 26, 2025
What’s your go-to for a thick yoga mat that’s easy on the joints?
I’ve been practicing yoga for a while but recently noticed my knees and wrists feeling sore on thinner mats. I started looking into thicker, foldable mats that still stay firm enough for balance, and I came across one on Amazon that’s 1 inch thick and foldable for storage https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Mat-1-Inch-Thick-Foldable/dp/B08JYMHLVD/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis?th=1 I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m curious if anyone here has experience with mats like this. Do they really make a difference in comfort for longer sessions? Or do you find the extra thickness makes balance poses harder? Would love to hear what others are using and what works best for you. submitted by /u/Any-Marionberry4035 to r/bodyweightfitness [link] [comments]
reddit.com Any-Marionberry4035 Sep 21, 2025
Yoga mat hygiene problem
I have a problem with rolling yoga mats. Actually I don't do yoga because of this. When you spray the top part of the mat, and you roll it, the bottom part brings all the disgusting dust and dirt back to front. Am I missing something? And how can I put my face on it for some poses, or my hair. I tried putting towel but it is not nice to struggle with it during yoga. I see now foldable ones exist but maybe not as comfortable. I might be a bit obsessed but I think I have a valid point here, right? The floor might not be dirty but my mind thinks it is disgusting. Searched the sub and read a few recommendations which are also a lot of work. I wonder if I should buy 2x 2.5 cm mats and the top one will always stay clean because it will only touch the bottom mat. Has anyone tried two mats on top of each other? submitted by /u/luteyla to r/yoga [link] [comments]
reddit.com luteyla Sep 2, 2025
travel yoga mat
Does anyone happen to have a travel yoga mat they keep in their bag on trips? I have the primasole foldable mat from amazon but even that is still too large in my luggage all the other crap I have submitted by /u/Technical_Nature4365 to r/flightattendants [link] [comments]
reddit.com Technical_Nature4365 Aug 1, 2025
Best yoga mat for home or travel?
I’ve been trying to find a solid yoga mat that works both for home workouts and travel. After trying a few and checking what others recommend, these are the ones that stood out. Whether you’re into yoga, pilates, or just stretching, these mats offer comfort, support, and good grip. Polyfit Foldable Yoga Mat (Super easy to fold and carry, great for travel and light use) Tatago Extra Thick XL Mat (Very wide and thick, good for home workouts where space isn't an issue) WUWAN Extra Wide Eco Mat (Non-slip surface and eco-friendly material, also comes with a strap) These all offer something a little different depending on what you value most. This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. Buying through them may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. submitted by /u/Extension-Can-3978 to r/BestOnAmazon [link] [comments]
reddit.com Extension-Can-3978 Jul 25, 2025
Travel mat recommendation- hot yoga
Hi! I want to know your opinions about travel mats. I’m looking for a mat that is easy to travel with, mainly in terms of weight (I do backpacking, so each point counts) and, if possible, foldable. I've researched a few options, like Manuka, Liforme, and Lululemon (my everyday math is Lululemon, and I'm pleased with it, but it is very heavy for travel with it), but I'm not sure which one is better for primarily hot yoga practice. Do any of you have a strong opinion or recommendation to share? Thanks! submitted by /u/Radiant-Writing-7872 to r/yoga [link] [comments]
reddit.com Radiant-Writing-7872 Mar 9, 2025
Wide yoga mat that folds
I searched the sub and was able to find wide yoga mats, and I was able to find folding yoga mats, but I was not able to find wide, folding yoga mats. I have a roll up one but it’s hard on my arthritic fingers, especially after a session when I tend to be more shaky. I won’t be doing a ton of traveling with my mat so I’m okay with it being bulkier. Any recommendations? submitted by /u/lvl0rg4n to r/yoga [link] [comments]
reddit.com lvl0rg4n Dec 24, 2024
Yoga Mats
Hi! Looking to buy a yoga mat (for Yoga Sculpt and otherwise) and am in between two: the Lululemon “The Mat” 5mm and the Stakt foldable mat set. What do you guys recommend of the two, or do you have another that I haven’t considered? Also- I posted the other day about being crazy nervous for my first class. Well I ended up booking and am absolutely obsessed! Not sure how I ever lived or worked out without it in my routine lol. Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement :) submitted by /u/Kittygurl426 to r/Corepower [link] [comments]
reddit.com Kittygurl426 Oct 11, 2024
Yoga Mat Idea
Hey all! I've been thinking about finding/making a pilates mat and want to see if anyone is having the same issue I am with the current ones out there. I find that the biggest issues I have with pretty much all mats I try is that It isn't thick enough Grip isn't great, especially in hot classes They aren't very portable. I find that even the foldable mats are still pretty big and awkward to carry around. If you were able to carry around thick mat (let's say 6mm) that would fit into a backpack/purse, that also was grippy would this be something of interest? If so how much would you think would be a fair price? submitted by /u/strawberryprincessss to r/Corepower [link] [comments]
reddit.com strawberryprincessss Oct 6, 2024
Yoga mat issues
Hey all! I've been thinking about finding/making a pilates mat and want to see if anyone is having the same issue I am with the current ones out there. I find that the biggest issues I have with pretty much all mats I try is that It isn't thick enough Grip isn't great, especially in hot classes They aren't very portable. I find that even the foldable mats are still pretty big and awkward to carry around. If you were able to carry around thick mat (let's say 6mm) that would fit into a backpack/purse, that also was grippy would this be something of interest? If so how much would you think would be a fair price? submitted by /u/strawberryprincessss to r/smallbusiness [link] [comments]
reddit.com strawberryprincessss Oct 6, 2024
Yoga mat issues
Hey all! I've been thinking about finding/making a pilates mat and want to see if anyone is having the same issue I am with the current ones out there. I find that the biggest issues I have with pretty much all mats I try is that It isn't thick enough Grip isn't great, especially in hot classes They aren't very portable. I find that even the foldable mats are still pretty big and awkward to carry around. If you were able to carry around thick mat (let's say 6mm) that would fit into a backpack/purse, that also was grippy would this be something of interest? If so how much would you think would be a fair price? submitted by /u/strawberryprincessss to r/loseit [link] [comments]
reddit.com strawberryprincessss Oct 6, 2024
Yoga mat issues
Hey all! I've been thinking about finding/making a pilates mat and want to see if anyone is having the same issue I am with the current ones out there. I find that the biggest issues I have with pretty much all mats I try is that It isn't thick enough Grip isn't great, especially in hot classes They aren't very portable. I find that even the foldable mats are still pretty big and awkward to carry around. If you were able to carry around thick mat (let's say 6mm) that would fit into a backpack/purse, that also was grippy would this be something of interest? If so how much would you think would be a fair price? submitted by /u/strawberryprincessss to r/PetiteFitness [link] [comments]
reddit.com strawberryprincessss Oct 6, 2024
Yoga mat issues
Hey all! I've been thinking about finding/making a pilates mat and want to see if anyone is having the same issue I am with the current ones out there. I find that the biggest issues I have with pretty much all mats I try is that It isn't thick enough Grip isn't great, especially in hot classes They aren't very portable. I find that even the foldable mats are still pretty big and awkward to carry around. If you were able to carry around thick mat (let's say 6mm) that would fit into a backpack/purse, that also was grippy would this be something of interest? If so how much would you think would be a fair price? submitted by /u/strawberryprincessss to r/flexibility [link] [comments]
reddit.com strawberryprincessss Oct 6, 2024
Yoga mat issues
Hey all! I've been thinking about finding/making a pilates mat and want to see if anyone is having the same issue I am with the current ones out there. I find that the biggest issues I have with pretty much all mats I try is that It isn't thick enough Grip isn't great, especially in hot classes They aren't very portable. I find that even the foldable mats are still pretty big and awkward to carry around. If you were able to carry around thick mat (let's say 6mm) that would fit into a backpack/purse, that also was grippy would this be something of interest? If so how much would you think would be a fair price? submitted by /u/strawberryprincessss to r/pilates [link] [comments]
reddit.com strawberryprincessss Oct 6, 2024
Have you ever seen a yoga mat like this?
I got this decades ago and it's the best mat I've ever had. I wish I could find another one. If you have any clue what company made this, let me know. I just can't remember. I've tried many mats, and none come close to this. What makes it different is 1) It's heavy 2) reversible 3)absolutely no slipping 4) unusually textured 5) accordion foldable 6) no odd smells like rubber 7) no foam. https://preview.redd.it/6b3fcgff95cd1.jpg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d48b11c72d7e54bd6e9b23cdc1fdb70c533f6444 submitted by /u/lshrtwll to r/yoga [link] [comments]
reddit.com lshrtwll Jul 12, 2024
Sticky Foldable Travel Mat Suggestions?
Hi all! For my regular practice I use a liforme, which I adore, but I was hoping to find a mat I could fold as opposed to having to roll for when I travel. Problem is, I’m a sweater and I find a lot of mats get super slippery once there’s moisture involved. I bought the Jade Yoga Voyager and was pretty excited since it felt so sticky to start with but as soon as I started sweating my hands and feet were all over the place. Has anyone found a foldable mat that won’t get super slick once you start sweating? ETA: Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to make a recommendation! submitted by /u/Numerous-Tie-9677 to r/ashtanga [link] [comments]
reddit.com Numerous-Tie-9677 Apr 5, 2023
Do foldable mats exist and are they worth it?
I work a job that allows me the space to do a short practice while I’m there but because I have such long shifts and am already dragging around enough baggage just to make sure I have enough food for the day I don’t wanna drag around a big yoga mat too. I’ve looked on Amazon and seen a couple fold up ones but they look bulky and not great. I’ve also considered just getting a hot yoga towel with slip resistant backing but not sure if how well that would work. So ya just wanted to ask the community if there were any good options out there and possible pros and cons of them. submitted by /u/Sea-Position-9878 to r/yoga [link] [comments]
reddit.com Sea-Position-9878 Jan 14, 2023
I found a disturbing yoga stream. If I stop watching, I can't save her.
She called it Yoga for One. I found her stream a month ago, during a rare confluence of self-disdain and spare time that collided into something resembling motivation. Tucked between the kickboxing classes and the home-gym meatheads was her thumbnail. It caught my eye. It was a simple shot of her face, so near to the camera that I could count the freckles. Her teeth a little too large for her mouth and her nose ever so slightly crooked. I’ve never been the type of guy to consider yoga, but I tuned in, and in a matter of seconds, I was entranced. The girl was in her living room, a haphazard mise-en-scene – the floor speckled with sad little plants and stacks of magazines. She posed with her hands on the floor and her hips thrust in the air. Her butt perched in the center of the screen. I decided to stay a while. I had no yoga mat, so I laid out a towel. It was difficult to follow along – she talked, a lot, and only a fraction of it was about the routine. “Press your heels together and bend your head to your feet, breathing deeply. My feet smell like peaches and cream today. Makes me want to gobble them up. I love summer peaches, I love biting into them and feeling the juice erupt in my mouth, it reminds me of the time when – ” And I fell into the meditative quagmire woven by her words, inhaling the scent of my own socks, failing to notice she’d moved into a different pose. After a while, my muscles trembled with the effort of supporting my soft body in these unfamiliar positions, so I called it a day. It was then that I noticed it. Subscribers: 1 That was me. I was the only one watching. I felt an inexplicable flood of guilt when I closed the browser, like I was abandoning her. I checked back into her channel the next few afternoons. It was the strangest thing. She was always streaming. She was either unaware of my presence, or apathetic to it. Her ramblings, so freewheeling that they approached random word association, didn’t seem to change whether I was there or not – she was often mid-sentence when I logged in. She was flirty in a way that made it clear she wasn’t trying to be, charmingly raw in her tendency to fumble instructions. Curiosity overwhelmed me. I yearned to discover more about this fascinating creature. Her movements drew me in, like she was grasping at me through the screen. I marveled at the feeling of being her silent voyeur. I developed more comfort with the basic poses, though I still couldn’t get my hands anywhere near my toes. Too soon, she notched up the level of difficulty. She eased herself into the splits. Each leg outstretched, her toes pointed at perfect right angles. I tried my best to replicate the pose, my groin protesting the pressure. Each day, she pushed a little farther. She curved her spine sharply behind her, a graceful arc. She lifted her back leg high into the air at an angle that seemed to wrench her hip out of place. I forced my body into the closest approximations of her geometry that my tendons would allow, my teeth gritted against the sharp warnings issued by my nerves. At night I dreamed that she was breaking my joints, cracking my limbs into the clean shapes that she maintained so effortlessly. One day she twisted her arms so far behind her that I felt sympathetic pain, and folded herself up so that her bent legs swooped around her shoulders, touching her toes behind her neck. She smiled at the camera, demurely, politely. “You want to see me bend into a pretzel, don’t you?” she asked. That was the first time she addressed me. I would forget to eat. I’d wake up on the couch, having dozed off, and she would be murmuring about pomegranates while her forehead brushed her knees. Did she sleep? Did she eat? I saw no evidence of it. Every time I moved, my body ached with the memory of being stretched to its limit. I was spending ten, twelve, fourteen hours a day on her stream. She spoke to me frequently. “I know you’ve been watching me. I think you like watching me. How far do you want me to twist for you?” The fluid shifting of her body into vertices and curves and delicate polygons was hypnotizing. I was getting lost in the light of a flickering flame as it swirled into different patterns. I was working myself into something more pliable, molding myself into something like her image. It's difficult to pinpoint the moment she went too far. It was more like the creep of quicksand than any one single point. She would lie on her back and lift herself on the palms and soles of her feet, her torso thrusting at the ceiling like she was something from the Exorcist. She would inch her hands and feet closer together, folding her body backwards on itself until she was nearly split in half. And then she would skitter forward until the whites of her eyes flooded the screen, scaring me so much that I jumped. And she would laugh, as if she had made a joke. She would twist her head around like an owl, and thrust it between her thighs. Always blinking at the screen. Always smiling like we were sharing some inside secret, like I was in on the sly conspiracy. She said, “You like this, don’t you, Mr. Smith? Am I your foldable pocket toy?” Smith is a very common last name. There was a nonzero chance she’d just guessed correctly. But this freaked me out enough to slam the laptop shut, shattering the image of her toothy smile. I tried to resume normal life. But I had almost nothing to fill my time except television and social media and filling out applications for jobs I’d never want to work. A strange sensation tickled at me, like something was wrong, like I was forgetting something. And powerful waves of guilt, the same guilt I’d felt when I closed her stream the first day I’d found her. I tried not to. I really, really tried to stay away. But the urge overwhelmed me, so I returned. For the first time, she wasn’t onscreen when I logged in. I peered closer at the scene, seeing the familiar yoga mat on the ground, the coffee table, the magazines. There was a soft noise coming from just off-screen, a muffled noise, irregular and halting. A human voice. I turned the volume all the way up, and I couldn’t tell if it was laughter or crying. Feeling sick, I closed the stream. This brings us to yesterday. I had spent countless hours thinking about her, wondering what she was doing, whether she was still telling stories to her invisible visitor. I logged in. Her eyes filled the webcam’s field of vision, so suddenly that I scrambled backwards. And that sound – echoing around the walls of her apartment and mine, and it was now clear that it was a sound of misery. Her moan was wordless, and as her face backed away, I saw why. Her bare foot was stuffed halfway in her mouth, her jaw nearly unhinged to accommodate it, the ball wedged between her teeth. Tears were streaming down her face, pooling around the corners of her stretched lips. Her arms were folded behind her head and her other leg was tucked under the first. She was struggling, and I realized that she was stuck. She was trapped in that position, a twisted ball of limbs and strained joints, unable to speak. I stared slackjawed at the screen, and her eyes met mine, seeming to blink in recognition. The force of her sobs crescendoed. In relief? I wasn’t sure. I had no idea what to do. I didn’t know her name or where she lived – I didn’t even know for sure that she was in the same country. I sat, frozen, for long moments, watching the twitching of her limbs as she tried to wrench herself out of the cage her body made. Then it struck me: I could type. Can you type your address? The messaged pinged its arrival at her computer. Our first real communication. She shook her head almost imperceptibly, with the slight range of motion her position allowed. I tried again: Can you type with your nose? Her eyes flickered across the page as she read my words. With great effort she rocked herself over, landing face-first on the keyboard. sivioshgeusoh, she typed. My heart pounding, I said, try again. I watched as she managed to prop herself precariously on one shoulder. Her body was convulsing with the force of her sobs. Eventually, she leaned forward, carefully, delicately, and pressed the tip of her nose to the keys. 3. Yes! That was it! That’s great. Give me another number. We traded for long, suspenseful minutes, her giving me one number or letter at a time, me writing them down and encouraging her as best I could. You’re doing great. I’m here with you. Help is on the way. She had cobbled together a number and a street. It had taken us nearly an hour to get to this point. She had just finished typing apt12 when she stopped, trembling with the effort of keeping herself upright, and we met eyes again through the camera, hers shining with pain and fear. And then she collapsed. She rolled out of sight. Panicking, I sent her dozens of frantic messages: What city? What state? Stay with me. I’m here. Where are you? I need more. It became clear that no more was coming. Her sobs stilled, her breath quieted. I searched the address and found every city in the country where the address she’d given me existed. I called every police station in every jurisdiction within range. It took a lot of explanation, but after hours of work there was nothing I could do but sit and wait nervously by the phone and stare at the empty apartment framed within my laptop screen. All I could do was type. I’m here with you. You’ll be safe. This will be over soon. You’re not alone. The ringing of the phone nearly sent me out of my skin. It was one in the morning. “Did you find her?” I asked desperately, scanning the scene for any sign of activity. “Tell me she’s all right!” The voice on the other end of the line sighed, a deep sigh, of sadness or frustration I couldn’t say. “We found her,” he said, his words gentle but guarded. “Stuck in that position, as you described. She’s… she’s not okay. She died of dehydration.” “She – what? No. That’s not possible. I just spoke to her!” “I don’t know what you saw, son. I truly don’t. But the girl we found has been dead for a month.” x submitted by /u/relicular to r/nosleep [link] [comments]
reddit.com relicular May 30, 2020