Most days I’m bored senseless waiting for people to come in. Antiques are an acquired taste. The people who do come in look adoringly over each piece, and I sit and wonder what they see. Maybe the pieces call to them like they did my mom.
I read. A lot. If I didn’t, the days would drag on. After I lock up each night, I go back to my apartment and to my sad existence. This is not the way I expected to be spending my time at the age of twenty-three. There hasn’t been another man in my life and I’m not actively looking for one. After what I went through with my ex, I’m in no hurry. I’m lonely, though. All of the friends I had from the advertising firm forgot about me when I left, and I’m not one to chase people who don’t seem interested in putting in the effort to remain friends.
The sweet sound of coffee dripping into the pot reaches my ears. Grabbing a yogurt from the fridge and some granola, I sit them on the table until the coffee is finished brewing. I’m not big on breakfast, but if I don’t eat I’ll feel sick all day.
After eating and downing two cups of my much needed caffeine, I go into the bathroom to get ready. I throw on a pair of dark denim jeans and a long-sleeved, black v-neck, then run wet fingers through my long, black hair in an effort to tame some of the frizz. My hair has a natural wave that only needs a little encouragement from the water to become springy. Then I hope for no humidity today.
I apply light makeup to my eyes and call it a day. I don’t need to get all dolled up to sit behind a counter for hours on end. Before I go downstairs, I pour the remainder of the coffee into a travel mug and switch the pot off. This will get me through until lunch when I’ll take a short break to refill.
Downstairs, I switch on all of the lights and walk to the front door to turn over the sign saying I’m open, and unlock the door. The store is in the middle of downtown in the tiny rural area I live in. It’s your typical country setting of one main street with all of the stores you need on it and nothing else for at least a half hour’s drive. The kindness of the people that live here is something I cherish, even if I don’t venture out often. When I used to live in the city, people would walk right into you on the street and not even apologize. Being in this small town is a huge change of pace.
One hour goes by. Two. Four. I stand to lock the door so I can refill my cup, when an elderly couple walks in. I smile and sit back down, while they browse the items in the store. Watching them gives me a slight pain in my chest wishing my own grandparents were still alive. I have no family anymore. My mom was all I had left.
They continue their perusal and stop in front of a large, cherry dresser with a tall mirror in the center. The varnish is chipped and the mirror has seen better days. The thing has been here as long as I can remember. No one even looks at it for more than five seconds. The price tag alone turns them away. If it’s really worth that much I don’t know, but my mom priced it the way she did for a reason, so I leave it alone.
They open it up and take a look at the inside of the drawers. Each one is opened then closed. When they get to the bottom I see them pause while looking inside. Craning my neck, I try to see what they found to cause such intense interest. I haven’t opened any of the drawers, so I’m not sure what could be in there. The older man looks my way and I take that as a hint to walk to them.
“Hi,” I say in a cheery voice. “Can I help you with something?”
“The drawer doesn’t seem right.” The woman’s eyes wrinkle at the corner while she studies it.
Bending down, my brows furrow and I look inside. She’s right. It’s like the interior is only half of the depth it should be. Pushing around on the piece of wood at the bottom, I find it gives a little in the back. I continue to press on it until the corner of the wood lifts. When I’m able to pry it free, I notice there is a hidden storage space. Tucked into the corner of the space is a small, pewter box.
I take it in my hand and stand to look it over. The detail is amazing for such a small piece. On the lid are two roses and a sunflower with sweeping lines around the border. It’s in the shape of a rectangle with scalloped edges, and each side has roses on it with more filigree work. There are four tiny legs, which give the box a delicate look.
Opening the lid, I notice red velvet inside, which has become worn in spots over time. There is a key within and a folded up piece of paper. I withdraw the key first to study it. It's made of gold and is very ornate. There is a crown on one end with golden swirls around it. The two teeth are shaped like nothing I've ever seen. They are mirror images of one another and covered in tiny golden leaves. It's heavy and cold in my hand. What a beautiful key.
“It’s a skeleton key,” the man says from beside me. I look up at him and see him studying the items in my hands. He takes the key from my palm and holds it up to the light. “I’ve never seen one quite like this,” he adds.
His wife steps up, lifting her round glasses from her petite nose to look at it as well. While they are studying it, I remove the letter from the box. I’m shocked to see my name in my mother’s handwriting on the front. I sit the box down on the dresser and place my hand over my mouth, while tears form in my eyes. I miss her so much, and here in my hand I hold something she left for me.
Alison,
If you are reading this letter, that means I wasn’t there to give this box to you. I apologize for leaving you to discover this, but it’s a secret I must have thought you weren’t ready for yet. I know you won’t believe what you’re about to read, but I need you to keep an open mind.
Where we live is not the only place where humans reside. There are other realms out there, too many to count. They are hidden and kept secret. I know this, because I’ve been to one. I even used to live there. It’s a place very different from our world. There are many kingdoms within. Kings and queens, knights, everything you’ve read about in fairy tales. It really exists and I want you to discover it as well. It’s part of who you are.
You see, your father didn’t abandon you. I left him while I was pregnant with you. I had no choice. I needed to keep you safe. I’m sorry for never telling you this, but I did what was best at the time. I knew you wouldn’t understand until you were older. Please forgive me for holding onto this for so long.
The key in this box opens a door to your father’s realm. To find the door, you must go to the back of the closet in my bedroom. Move all of the boxes and clothes aside. On the far right corner, you’ll see a handle in the wall. Pull it open and you will reveal the door to their realm.