everything in the depot stops at nine. the dock light blinks nine times and then pauses. nine tally marks inside the letter room doorframe, scratched at exactly my height. nine pin shadows under the clip lamp, all leaning the same way.
i didn't start this. i'm just the one writing it down.
so this page is the list. one line for each nine i find, and nothing gets crossed off. if it turns out to be the wiring, fine. i'll still keep the list.
there's a tenth line somewhere. it isn't finished yet.