By LadyVashe
One night I could not sleep, and decided to walk out into the night. The moon was risen high,
Its reflected light flickered off drops of moisture clinging to the Lilac flanking my back door. I knew as soon as I stepped outside, something was special about the night. I felt as if my past life, lifted away, taking all the pain it bore with it.
I inhaled the cool night air, softly scented with fresh green leaves and possibility... I stepped into my future...
The dark expanse of the neighboring park stretched into black pools, crouching under a stand of evergreens.
Their dark branches dipped and swayed, caught in the breeze, whispering like sharing secrets. I walked straight to their beckoning arms, letting their shadows wrap around me. Stepping around the massive trunks, I came upon the wall surrounding the public grounds. I wandered through carefully tended lawns, manicured hedges, daffodils dipping their heads as I passed, bobbing on the warm breeze.
I followed an old masoned wall, its height gradually increasing. Thick ivy vines tangled their way down its side, tendrils digging like fingers into any crevice. Their glossy leaves increased in number, the concealed wall barely visable. The ground under my feet felt soft, I looked down and noticed somewhere along the way the path stones became overgrown with soft moss. I looked up and realized I must be lost, for I couldn't see the way I had come. However, feeling no fear, I continued following the ever fading path.
I noticed that the grass seemed to be overlooked here, growing tall like thin reeds. I started to push my way through the evergrowing foliage. I was about to turn around, fear having its first brush against my chest, when my hand felt resistence. I reached out again seeing ivy in front of me.
Hard. I felt stone, cold and unmoving. What? I thought, I peered closer, felt the edge of the wall with my feet, yes a wall of stone, no cement, old.
I felt my way along the wall carefully looking for an opening. I searched what seemed like hours, beads of persperation on my face. I sat down in frustration,
deciding to find my way back after catching my breath. I took a deep breath and picked a blade of grass near my seat. I raised my eyes to find the top of the wall,
when I noticed a shadow, and a sliver of light. I moved back to the wall, and ran my fingers along the shadow, my fingers, pushing past moist earth, felt air.
I ran my fingers along the bottom of what appeared now to be a door....
Door? My heart sped up a notch. I groped my fingers along the bottom of the door,
looking for the connecting side. I finally felt a nitch, crouching closer, I pushed aside the ivy
to see a crack running up into the wall stretching above my head. I felt up looking for some kind
of hinge. The door was wood, uneven, carved like stone, it blended perfectly into the surrounding stone.
Who would build such a wall? What was this? my mind was whirling with possibilities.
What was the door blocking? What might be behind it? I ran my hand across the surface,
gently moving the ivy aside, I found the other edge, a handle? Must be one. .My fingers brushed against something
smooth, ahh, found it. A latch, old soft metal, heart shaped, Hmmm? This was becoming curious. I peered closer,
the moon drifting behind far off clouds. An old fashioned keyhole smack in the center. I thought for amoment,
how would I get this open? There must be something beyond this door, why the lock? My mind raced, grasping for answers,
I had to get this open. I sat on the ground again, stared at the now visable door. A key, there must be one. Who? Now I thought back,
I was in a public garden. Was it always public? Did someone live near here? Then I thought of the key In apot of Lavender on my porch.
Hidden. I got up and started searching... I ran my fingers over every inch of wall. I pryed at tens of places that seemed a loose stone.
About four feet from the door clasp, my fingers moved a stone.
I moved closer to the wall, using both hands to slowly wiggle the stone back and forth, finally freeing it from the wall, placing it aside,
I peered into the dark hole in its wake. Seeing nothing scarey (bugs) I reached my hand inside, feeling along the edge
My fingers felt something move when my hand moved over it, I closed my fingers around the key. Pulling my hand out, I stared
at the heart shaped key in my palm. Excitement uncurled in my belly, sending tremors through my arms, omigod, I found it. I looked back to the door,
my feet rushing back to its face. I took a deep breath, inhaling the green smell of all the vines and leaves I had disturbed, i pushed the key into the lock...it fit.
I turned the key, felt slight resisitance, but it turned, I heard the latch fall back into the heart shaped plate, cool air kissed my face, as the door swung open, softly,
like it was yesterday......
Art Graphics by LadyVashe