Final Gift

The fog lay heavy and thick across the courtyard as a sole figure emerged from the dark shadows along the tree line. She stood alone, glancing about her surroundings. Pulling the hood down further to cover her face she silently made her way alone the cobbled stone path. In the distance a tight grouping of buildings provided a dim solitary light in the fog.

As she walked, she carelessly caressed the package in her hand with her thumb. Rubbing the smooth surface gave her a small sense of satisfaction. This was a special gift for a dear friend.

Cautiously she approached the dormitories. The large, formidable red brick buildings seemed to tower over her in the dark night, providing truly little light to help her make her way. She stopped and glanced around. There was no one present, no one was watching. Satisfied that she was alone she continued seeking out shelter in the shadows of the monstrous brick maze.

A slight mist began to fall as she reached the halfway mark in the courtyard. She stopped for a moment, raising her head, taking pleasure in the soft cool wet air. The distraction was a welcome one but only momentarily. Lowering her head, she trained her focus and thoughts back on the building ahead of her. As she moved forward, she listened carefully to her surroundings. Silence, nothing but silent solitude something she was very accustomed to. She spent most of her life alone. Even in the largest crowds she was always alone. She was an outcast, not because of her color or background, language or religion she was just different. How exactly she did not know, and she was not very good at guessing. She was simply different and because of that people kept their distance, no one ever dared to get too close.

Forever on the outside looking in was a fate she had learned to accept. She lived well in her own little world, seeking condolence and companionship in herself.

It was a life she had tolerated until she met him.

Tall, handsome and bold he had stepped over the threshold. At first, he had frightened her, No one came this close yet here was this person not a boy and clearly not yet a man trying to enter her forbidden kingdom. Offering her freedom from societies prison.

Despite her caution and trepidation her fear soon subsided as she saw the world through his eyes. No longer alone she soared to new sights and was thrilled by the exhilaration of it all. All around her the doors began to open and people emerged. Slowly at first then a little faster. People no longer frowned upon her or whispered in her presence. She was still on the outside but a little closer to the entrance. And just when the door was opening to her, inviting her in showing her its mysteries, it suddenly slammed shut.

And from outside face pressed against the cold stained glass she watched while her ears echoed the sound of her broken heart.

There he was taking the hand of a strange girl while in the other hand he still held tightly to her heart and her freedom.

A solitary tear ran down her cheek to the floor, the sound echoed off the walls of her prison.

Crushed the painful truth was revealed to her, he was curious they all were, but he was bolder than the rest.

“ I will return to my old ways” she told herself.

But that was not to be done. She could not return to a world of solitude and silence, for she had seen their world and all the joys it beheld, the parties the dances, the joy.

No, she couldn’t return to her own world she wanted theirs and to get to it she had to get to him. He held her in limbo between the two. She had to break away from one to another or to neither.

She had reached her destination moments sooner and stood quietly at the door cherishing the soft rain that fell. The tall brick building towered before. It was as intimidating in stature as the task she was about to undertake. The doors before her seemed to glow in the darkness. Although clearly an optical illusion the novelty of it was not lost on her. There were the doors to their world. So why shouldn’t they glow. Beyond those doors they were seeking shelter in warm halls while she was standing in the dark and the wet rain.

Reaching hand trembling she grasped the handled and pulled. Light poured out blinding her momentarily. Hesitating for a moment she took a breath and several tentative steps before entering the main foyer. As she did her senses were battered from all directions.

A sweet aroma tickled her nose while a soft cloud of music reached to nuzzle her ears. She stood quietly looking about marveling at what she could see hear and smell.

Slowly she turned and walked down the hall rubbing her hand along the wall as she went. A strange sensation crept up her arm and left her fingertips numb and tingly.

Then she stopped. So many doors. Where did they all lead, to other adventures far greater than what she had seen. Which door, which door was the right door.

Then she heard it. A voice laughing in the distance. A soft deep chuckle with the warmth of a heavy blanket but the softness of a bird’s wings. It lingered in the air like a warm hug beckoning her to follow. Se walked down the hall following it, faster and faster than she was running. She knew that voice and she wanted to find it more than anything. She wanted to be enveloped in the cocoon of that voice.

At last she stopped running, the voice was behind the door in front of her. Was it the right door? Again, she heard the laughter, louder now and right in front of her. There was no doubt. Timidly she raised her hand and knocked. Silence. Then a click as the door swung open and she stood before her. Her grip tightened on the package in her hand. She had found him.

She looked at him, did he remember her? Would he remember her? He smiled and invited her in. Yes, he remembered her. As she passed through the door, she entered his world and her whole body shivered at the thought of its return.

Bright colorful pictures lined the walls of his room. Who where the people in the pictures” A dog, his dog? A small desk was in the corner. Seated at the desk was a darkhaired girl who sat watching her. She in turn regarded this intruder closely and coldly. Neither spoke.

“What are you doing here?” he asked interrupting her silent inspection of the girl at the desk.

He doesn’t want me here she thought. He wants me to go back.

“I brought you a gift.” She said

“Oh, then give it to me. “He smiled at her

She glanced back to the girl in the corner then pulled a small metallic object out of the bag in her hand and raised it for him to see.

“I thought you would like it. It’s a final gift”. She smiled

Then a loud crash enveloped the room and echoed in the air. The noise continued to echo in her head as the doors slammed shut one by one. The last with a clang, a click and the sound of retreating footsteps.

Silence, darkness and solitude. Only a small window with a crack of light shining through leading to their world.