She stood there, majestic and elegant. She was a vintage masterpiece that stood the test of time. She was mainly a rich, warm, dark, polished wood. She was carved with a very simple yet stunning outline. Her brass handle was tarnished with age, but still had a lustrous shine. The lock was rusty and antique, spreading its welcoming aura that beckons you. Simply, she was a timeless beauty.
Ezra was an 18 year old intern at “Homely Boutique,” working part-time in the door section. He helped around best he could and could tell whether a door matched the buyer’s personality. Ezra had a gift for this kind of art, almost like he had another sense. He was mostly quiet, observing a lot, and had a deep trust in his guts.
When it happened, it was the second Sunday of the wintertime, and as many people were out of the town, the home department store was desolate. During these quiet moments, Ezra loved to roam the door section, bursting with curiosity. He ran his hand against the smooth wood of the mahogany doors. He pressed his palm towards the rough metal of the steel doors. He brushed his fingertips against the glassy surface of the sliding doors. He admired the intricate carvings of a Gothic door, the elegant curves of a French door, the lean windows of a cottage door. He wondered what kind of people would choose each door, what kind of lives they led, and the kind of dreams they had. Ezra wandered until he was met with an unfamiliar lady. The lady was wearing a formal skirt and a white shirt and held an elegant posture. She was looking at a pristine, angelic door frame and between his fingertips, she was fiddling with a vintage key.
“Excuse me miss.” Ezra said politely, “Do you need assistance finding a door?”
The woman turned around to face him and replied,“Ah, Ezra. No, I do not, but thank you. I suppose you do not know me?”
Ezra simply said, “No.”
“Well, let me introduce myself. I am the owner of this wonderous department store, and I’ve been doing this for over 17 years!” She said, “I’ve seen your file and observed your work, and I’ll say I’m very impressed. I thought about it, and I’ve decided to give you this.”
With that, the curious lady handed the rustic key she was fiddling with and walked away soundlessly. The key was made of brass, tarnished by time and use, but still retaining a faint golden glow. The handle was ornate, with an intricate pattern of a rose and curves that hinted at a noble origin. The key had a distinctive smell, a mix of metal, roses, and incense. And it was only during the spring festival did Ezra find out what the key was for.
Home Boutique had a large sale. It was indeed a special sale, offering up to 35% off along with countless more discounts and bargains to kick-start the new year, as well as the arriving spring. After Ezra was given the key, he tried it on all the doors in the department store, yet he couldn’t find the one. Many new doors had arrived, including one that stunned Ezra and gave him a funny tug in his heart. She was a locked vintage wooden door, a timeless beauty. However, Ezra didn’t want to open her just yet. He decided to spend long hours during the quiet days in her company. Brushing his fingertips against her, and just gazing in awe at her simplicity and gracefulness. He felt somehow full in her presence, like she accompanied him just as well as he accompanied her, like she was another part of him that he needed to live with. Yet, she was locked. He had the key, yet still she was locked. Why, might you ask? Well, he had a fear. A fear of the unknown, new space. He felt that she was a transition into something, somewhere unfamiliar and strange. The choice kept him at a distance from her and started to overwhelm him even till his studies. Then, his internship ended.
Now, Ezra is 29 years old and lives in a modest apartment, where another door guards his place. Unfortunate? Not exactly. Rumour has it, he’s moving back to his hometown where he’s already bought a warm cottage and a special door.
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