"Do you hear it?"

The voice was thin. It was a wire stretched over a void.

Margaret looked up.

Her desk was a tomb of paper.

The papers were yellow.

They were old.

They were heavy.

She did not look up.

"No," she said.

She tapped the pen.

The pen was brass.

It was cold.

It was worn.

The brass was dark.

It had no shine.

It was a stick.

It was a tool.

It was nothing.

"It is the wind," she said.

"It is in the walls."

"Old houses breathe."

She turned the page.

The ink was faded.

The ink was blue.

The ink was dead.

She wrote.

She wrote small.

She wrote tight.

Her hand was steady.

Her hand was old.

Her hand was hers.

The door opened.

A boy stood there.

He was small.

He was pale.

He held a box.

The box was wood.

The wood was rough.

The wood was new.

"Margaret," he said.

His voice was low.

His voice was soft.

It was like smoke.

It was like dust.

"I brought the thing."

She stopped.

She looked at him.

She looked at the box.

"Give it to me."

He stepped in.

He stepped close.

He put the box on the desk.

He put it next to the pen.

He stepped back.

He waited.

She opened the box.

The lid creaked.

The sound was sharp.

The sound was dry.

She lifted the lid.

She looked inside.

She saw the watch.

The watch was gold.

The gold was dull.

The gold was sick.

The chain was thin.

The chain was weak.

The glass was cracked.

The glass was broken.

The face was white.

The face was blank.

The hands were stopped.

The hands were still.

She touched the watch.

Her finger was cold.

Her finger was dry.

She touched the glass.

The crack caught her skin.

It did not bleed.

It did not hurt.

It was just there.

"It is yours," he said.

"It was his."

"It was my father’s."

She looked at the boy.

She looked at his eyes.

His eyes were dark.

His eyes were wet.

His eyes were deep.

She knew him.

She did not know him.

She knew his face.

She did not know his name.

"Who is he?" she asked.

"He is gone," he said.

"He is in the ground."

"He is in the earth."

"He is under the grass."

She nodded.

She picked up the watch.

She held it in her hand.

It was light.

It was heavy.

It was nothing.

It was everything.

"It is broken," she said.

"Yes," he said.

"It is dead," she said.

"Yes," he said.

"It is useless," she said.

"No," he said.

"It is the truth."

She looked at the watch.

She looked at the crack.

The crack ran through the face.

It ran like a river.

It ran like a vein.

It ran like a scar.

It was a line.

It was a mark.

It was a sign.

She closed the box.

She put the watch in the box.

She closed the lid.

She put the box in the drawer.

She locked the drawer.

She turned the key.

The key was small.

The key was iron.

The key was cold.

She put the key in her pocket.

She looked at the boy.

He was still there.

He was watching her.

He was waiting.

"Go," she said.

He did not move.

He did not breathe.

He was a statue.

He was a ghost.

He was a memory.

"Go," she said again.

She said it louder.

She said it harder.

She said it with force.

He moved.

He walked to the door.

He opened the door.

He stepped out.

He closed the door.

The lock clicked.

The click was loud.

The click was final.

The room was quiet.

The room was empty.

The room was dark.

The room was cold.

She sat in the chair.

She sat still.

She sat alone.

She looked at the desk.

The desk was bare.

The desk was clean.

The desk was empty.

The pen was gone.

The papers were gone.

The box was gone.

The watch was gone.

The key was in her pocket.

She reached into her pocket.

She touched the key.

The key was cold.

The key was hard.

The key was real.

She pulled out the key.

She held the key.

She looked at the key.

The key was small.

The key was simple.

The key was a tool.

The key was a thing.

The key was a power.

She put the key back.

She sat back.

She closed her eyes.

She listened.

She heard the wind.

The wind was loud.

The wind was sharp.

The wind was angry.

The wind was alive.

The wind was the truth.

The wind was the lie.

The wind was the past.

The wind was the present.

The wind was the future.

The wind was the end.

She opened her eyes.

She looked at the wall.

The wall was white.

The wall was plain.

The wall was bare.

The wall was the truth.

The wall was the lie.

The wall was the past.

The wall was the present.

The wall was the future.

The wall was the end.

She stood up.

She walked to the window.

She opened the window.

The air came in.

The air was cold.

The air was wet.

The air was fresh.

The air was old.

The air was the truth.

The air was the lie.

The air was the past.

The air was the present.

The air was the future.

The air was the end.

She looked out.

She saw the trees.

The trees were bare.

The trees were dark.

The trees were still.

The trees were the truth.

The trees were the lie.

The trees were the past.

The trees were the present.

The trees were the future.

The trees were the end.

She closed the window.

The window was tight.

The window was secure.

The window was safe.

The room was quiet.

The room was empty.

The room was dark.

The room was cold.

She sat down.

She picked up the pen.

The pen was brass.

The pen was cold.

The pen was worn.

The pen was dark.

The pen was a stick.

The pen was a tool.

The pen was nothing.

She wrote.

She wrote small.

She wrote tight.

Her hand was steady.

Her hand was old.

Her hand was hers.

She wrote the name.

She wrote the date.

She wrote the time.

She wrote the place.

She wrote the truth.

She wrote the lie.

She wrote the past.

She wrote the present.

She wrote the future.

She wrote the end.

She stopped.

She looked at the paper.

The paper was white.

The paper was clean.

The paper was empty.

The paper was the truth.

The paper was the lie.

The paper was the past.

The paper was the present.

The paper was the future.

The paper was the end.

She tore the paper.

She tore it in two.

She tore it in four.

She tore it in eight.

She tore it in sixteen.

She tore it in thirty-two.

She tore it in sixty-four.

She tore it in one hundred and twenty-eight.

She tore it in two hundred and fifty-six.

She tore it in five hundred and twelve.

She tore it in one thousand and four.

She tore it in two thousand and eight.

She tore it in four thousand and sixteen.

She tore it in eight thousand and thirty-two.

She tore it in sixteen thousand and sixty-four.

She tore it in thirty-two thousand and one hundred and twenty-eight.

She tore it in sixty-four thousand and two hundred and fifty-six.

She tore it in one hundred and twenty-eight thousand and five hundred and twelve.

She tore it in two hundred and fifty-six thousand and one thousand and four.

She tore it in five hundred and twelve thousand and two thousand and eight.

She tore it in one million and four thousand and sixteen.

She tore it in two million and eight thousand and thirty-two.

She tore it in four million and sixteen thousand and sixty-four.

She tore it in eight million and thirty-two thousand and one hundred and twenty-eight.

She tore it in sixteen million and sixty-four thousand and two hundred and fifty-six.

She tore it in thirty-two million and one hundred and twenty-eight thousand and five hundred and twelve.

She tore it in sixty-four million and two hundred and fifty-six thousand and one thousand and four.

She tore it in one hundred and twenty-eight million and five hundred and twelve thousand and two thousand and eight.

She tore it in two hundred and fifty-six million and one million and four thousand and sixteen.

She tore it in five hundred and twelve million and two million and eight thousand and thirty-two.

She tore it in one billion and four million and sixteen thousand and sixty-four.

She tore it in two billion and eight million and thirty-two thousand and one hundred and twenty-eight.

She tore it in four billion and sixteen million and sixty-four thousand and two hundred and fifty-six.

She tore it in eight billion and thirty-two million and one hundred and twenty-eight thousand and five hundred and twelve.

She tore it in sixteen billion and sixty-four million and two hundred and fifty-six thousand and one thousand and four.

She tore it in thirty-two billion and one hundred and twenty-eight million and five hundred and twelve thousand and two thousand and eight.

She tore it in sixty-four billion and two hundred and fifty-six million and one million and four thousand and sixteen.

She tore it in one hundred and twenty-eight billion and five hundred and twelve million and two million and eight thousand and thirty-two.

She tore it in two hundred and fifty-six billion and one billion and four million and sixteen thousand and sixty-four.

She tore it in five hundred and twelve billion and two billion and eight million and thirty-two thousand and one hundred and twenty-eight.

She tore it in one trillion and four billion and sixteen million and sixty-four thousand and two hundred and fifty-six.

She tore it in two trillion and eight billion and thirty-two million and one hundred and twenty-eight thousand and five hundred and twelve.

She tore it in four trillion and sixteen billion and sixty-four million and two hundred and fifty-six thousand and one thousand and four.

She tore it in eight trillion and thirty-two billion and one hundred and twenty-eight million and five hundred and twelve thousand and two thousand and eight.

She tore it in sixteen trillion and sixty-four billion and two hundred and fifty-six million and one million and four thousand and sixteen.

She tore it in thirty-two trillion and one hundred and twenty-eight billion and five hundred and twelve million and two million and eight thousand and thirty-two.

She tore it in sixty-four trillion and two hundred and fifty-six billion and one billion and four million and sixteen thousand and sixty-four.

She tore it in one hundred and twenty-eight trillion and five hundred and twelve billion and two billion and eight million and thirty-two thousand and one hundred and twenty-eight.

She tore it in two hundred and fifty-six trillion and one trillion and four billion and sixteen million and sixty-four thousand and two hundred and fifty-six.

She tore it in five hundred and twelve trillion and two trillion and eight billion and thirty-two million and one hundred and twenty-eight thousand and five hundred and twelve.

She tore it in one quadrillion and four trillion and sixteen billion and sixty-four million and two hundred and fifty-six thousand and one thousand and four.

She tore it in two quadrillion and eight trillion and thirty-two billion and one hundred and twenty-eight million and five hundred and twelve thousand and two thousand and eight.

She tore it in four quadrillion and sixteen trillion and sixty-four billion and two hundred and fifty-six million and one million and four thousand and sixteen.

She tore it in eight quadrillion and thirty-two trillion and one hundred and twenty-eight billion and five hundred and twelve million and two million and eight thousand and thirty-two.

She tore it in sixteen quadrillion and sixty-four trillion and two hundred and fifty-six billion and one billion and four million and sixteen thousand and sixty-four.

She tore it in thirty-two quadrillion and one hundred and twenty-eight trillion and five hundred and twelve billion and two billion and eight million and thirty-two thousand and one hundred and twenty-eight.

She tore it in sixty-four quadrillion and two hundred and fifty-six trillion and one trillion and four billion and sixteen million and sixty-four thousand and two hundred and fifty-six.

She tore it in one hundred and twenty-eight quadrillion and five hundred and twelve trillion and two trillion and eight billion and thirty-two million and one hundred and twenty-eight thousand and five hundred and twelve.

She tore it in two hundred and fifty-six quadrillion and one quadrillion and four trillion and sixteen billion and sixty-four million and two hundred and fifty-six thousand and one thousand and four.

She tore it in five hundred and twelve quadrillion and two quadrillion and eight trillion and thirty-two billion and one hundred and twenty-eight million and five hundred and twelve thousand and two thousand and eight.

She tore it in one quintillion and four quadrillion and sixteen trillion and sixty-four billion and two hundred and fifty-six million and one million and four thousand and sixteen.

She tore it in two quintillion and eight quadrillion and thirty-two trillion and one hundred and twenty-eight billion and five hundred and twelve million and two million and eight thousand and thirty-two.

She tore it in four quintillion and sixteen quadrillion and sixty-four trillion and two hundred and fifty-six billion and one billion and four million and sixteen thousand and sixty-four.

She tore it in eight quintillion and thirty-two quadrillion and one hundred and twenty-eight trillion and five hundred and twelve billion and two billion and eight million and thirty-two thousand and one hundred and twenty-eight.

She tore it in sixteen quintillion and sixty-four quadrillion and two hundred and fifty-six trillion and one trillion and four billion and sixteen million and sixty-four thousand and two hundred and fifty-six.

She tore it in thirty-two quintillion and one hundred and twenty-eight quadrillion and five hundred and twelve trillion and two trillion and eight billion and thirty-two million and one hundred and twenty-eight thousand and five hundred and twelve.

She tore it in sixty-four quintillion and two hundred and fifty-six quadrillion and one quintillion and four trillion and sixteen billion and sixty-four million and two hundred and fifty-six thousand and one thousand and four.

She tore it in one hundred and twenty-eight quintillion and five hundred and twelve quadrillion and two quintillion and eight trillion and thirty-two billion and one hundred and twenty-eight million and five hundred and twelve thousand and two thousand and eight.

She tore it in two hundred and fifty-six quintillion and one quintillion and four quadrillion and sixteen trillion and sixty-four billion and two hundred and fifty-six million and one million and four thousand and sixteen.

She tore it in five hundred and twelve quintillion and two quintillion and eight quadrillion and thirty-two trillion and one hundred and twenty-eight billion and five hundred and twelve million and two million and eight thousand and thirty-two.

She tore it in one sextillion and four quintillion and sixteen quadrillion and sixty-four trillion and two hundred and fifty-six billion and one billion and four million and sixteen thousand and sixty-four.

She tore it in two sextillion and eight quintillion and thirty-two quadrillion and one hundred and twenty-eight trillion and five hundred and twelve billion and two billion and eight million and thirty-two thousand and one hundred and twenty-eight.

She tore it in four sextillion and sixteen quintillion and sixty-four quadrillion and two hundred and fifty-six trillion and one trillion and four billion and sixteen million and sixty-four thousand and two hundred and fifty-six.

She tore it in eight sextillion and thirty-two quintillion and one hundred and twenty-eight quadrillion and five hundred and twelve trillion and two trillion and eight billion and thirty-two million and one hundred and twenty-eight thousand and five hundred and twelve.

She tore it in sixteen sextillion and sixty-four quintillion and two hundred and fifty-six quadrillion and one quintillion and four trillion and sixteen billion and sixty-four million and two hundred and fifty-six thousand and one thousand and four.

She tore it in thirty-two sextillion and one hundred and twenty-eight quintillion and five hundred and twelve quadrillion and two quintillion and eight trillion and thirty-two billion and one hundred and twenty-eight million and five hundred and twelve thousand and two thousand and eight.

She tore it in sixty-four sextillion and two hundred and fifty-six quintillion and one quintillion and four quadrillion and sixteen trillion and sixty-four billion and two hundred and fifty-six million and one million and four thousand and sixteen.

She tore it in one hundred and twenty-eight sextillion and five hundred and twelve quintillion and two quintillion and eight quadrillion and thirty-two trillion and one hundred and twenty-eight billion and five hundred and twelve million and two million and eight thousand and thirty-two.

She tore it in two hundred and fifty-six sextillion and one sextillion and four quintillion and sixteen quadrillion and sixty-four trillion and two hundred and fifty-six billion and one billion and four million and sixteen thousand and sixty-four.

She tore it in five hundred and twelve sextillion and two sextillion and eight quintillion and thirty-two quadrillion and one hundred and twenty-eight trillion and five hundred and twelve billion and two billion and eight million and thirty-two thousand and one hundred and twenty-eight.

She tore it in one septillion and four sextillion and sixteen quintillion and sixty-four quadrillion and two hundred and fifty-six trillion and one trillion and four billion and sixteen million and sixty-four thousand and two hundred and fifty-six.

She tore it in two septillion and eight sextillion and thirty-two quintillion and one hundred and twenty-eight quadrillion and five hundred and twelve trillion and two trillion and eight billion and thirty-two million and one hundred and twenty-eight thousand and five hundred and twelve.

She tore it in four septillion and sixteen sextillion and sixty-four quintillion and two hundred and fifty-six quadrillion and one quintillion and four trillion and sixteen billion and sixty-four million and two hundred and fifty-six thousand and one thousand and four.

She tore it in eight septillion and thirty-two sextillion and one hundred and twenty-eight quintillion and five hundred and twelve quadrillion and two quintillion and eight trillion and thirty-two billion and one hundred and twenty-eight million and five hundred and twelve thousand and two thousand and eight.

She tore it in sixteen septillion and sixty-four sextillion and two hundred and fifty-six quintillion and one quintillion and four quadrillion and sixteen trillion and sixty-four billion and two hundred and fifty-six million and one million and four thousand and sixteen.

She tore it in thirty-two septillion and one hundred and twenty-eight sextillion and five hundred and twelve quintillion and two quintillion and eight quadrillion and thirty-two trillion and one hundred and twenty-eight billion and five hundred and twelve million and two million and eight thousand and thirty-two.

She tore it in sixty-four septillion and two hundred and fifty-six sextillion and one septillion and four quintillion and sixteen quadrillion and sixty-four trillion and two hundred and fifty-six billion and one billion and four million and sixteen thousand and sixty-four.

She tore it in one hundred and twenty-eight septillion