The Gift

“It’s time!” Sheila announced to the room as she pointed at the clock. “Let the party start!” She pulled a Christmas popper apart, releasing a handful of confetti into the air. Everyone laughed and then chairs shuffled and drawers slammed as my coworkers closed up for the Christmas break.

I closed my tabs on the computer, shut it down, slipped my pens into a cup, and stacked papers into a pile before sliding them into a tall file sitting on my desk. Opening my top drawer to pull out my mirror to check my make-up, I noticed a gift sitting in the back of the drawer. Hmm, I thought. That’s strange. “When did that get there?” I whispered under my breath. I looked around, but no one was nearby. I spotted a tiny tag on it with my name written I curling festive letters.

I looked around once again, but the office had been deserted from everyone headed to the cafeteria. I pulled the gift out and set it upon my desk. The burgundy box was held together by a bright silver ribbon. Jewelry entered my mind, and I wondered who would have given me jewelry at work. And did they know I was dating someone? Nobody here knows that though, I mused.

Curiosity got the better of me so I pulled the ribbon. The bow slid easily apart and shimmered as it landed on the desk. I stared at it for a moment, appreciating the moment. I lifted the lid and exchanged one sparkle for another as gold shined out at me from a bed of white. A tiny key glittered at me.

I picked it up and stared at it, turning it first one way, and then the other, watching the light reflect. What is it for? A charm for a necklace or a bracelet? It couldn’t actually unlock anything, could it? Maybe a locket…or a diary…or even one of those tiny old suitcase locks.

I put it back in the box, then picked up the lid and noticed a note inside. It too was written in curling festive lettering:

“I’ve been watching you closely

and know your heart is good.

Come visit my amazing world,

by unlocking a door of wood.”

I looked around again, instinct I guess. I knew there was nobody left in the office. This is crazy, I thought, as I stared at the walls hoping a door would emerge from the drywall. But, no doors emerged, not big or small, so I put the lid back on the box and slipped it, along with the ribbon and note, into my purse. I’ll deal with it later.