I walked up to the cottage door and unlocked it only to walk into my new home.
Along the walls as soon as I walked in is pictures of all of my family, mainly my Papa and I. Carrying on my tour of the house that is covered in sheets. Pictures on the tables dusty as if no one has been here for a week. The food cabinets half empty, wooden floors as if they hadn't been swept and creaking with age, and the candles half worn.
I couldn't keep the tears from escaping as I glanced over at my dad's old chair. I just had to sit down and once I did I placed my head in my hands. All of our memories came together, flashing through my mind.
We were so close that I see him like the old days taking care of me, helping me with homework when I got home, holding me when I cried and needed Mamma, and when I got my heart broken he was ready to help mend, and to teach me to be stronger from it.
Getting up from the chair I pulled the sheets off of everything. I stood in the corner of the room and just stood and stared off at a single stream of light came in through the window.
I couldn't help but smile at the memory of my Mamma telling me a single stream of light in your house means an angel has came to visit. I could only hope that was Papa smiling in on me.
I don't know what got into me, but I just grabbed a broom. I started to sweep all of the dust off the floors and next I mopped.
Everything else had been covered so it was just as it had been. I went over to the bookshelves and straightened them. I sat up the few literature titles that sat on the shelf.
I look around at the cottage satisfied with what work I achieved. I began to feel weary as I look at the old wooden door next to me.
I stare at my reflection in the knob. I walk off and decide that the bedroom is not for today. I began to heat up the old wood stove.
I place the wood into the entrance below to heat up the stove. To even think of the warmth has me eager at this point as I shut the grate. I put my hands close as the flames engulfed the wood before me filling me with warmth. 'Oh, how amazing that heat feels too.' I think to myself.
As soon as the hearth warned me enough I sighed in content.
I got up walking over to my luggage. I turned facing myself toward the door I was not ready to enter. I walk over toward it with my bags in hand.
I place one down only to open the door and find the bedroom untouched and neat. It was as if no one had slept in it for sometime. That was Papa for you he always slept in his recliner.
I could just picture him now dark hair with mixes of grey tousled on his head, stubble on his chin, his reading glassing sitting on the bridge of his nose, and a book marked in his lap. Every time I caught him falling asleep out here I'd place his book on the end table and a blanket over him. I could only imagine how hard it was for him to sleep in the room he once shared with Momma. Now that I don't have them both it hard being here in general. Knowing neither would be here to see me graduate from college as I finish out the rest online.
I also knew neither would be here to see me get married, or even have kids one day. It was selfish in a way for me to still want them to be here, but they are always going to be my parent I found comfort in them both.
Papa would always sit by the fire and write about his days on the farm or other jobs he would pick up to make money, like lumber. He was always resourceful and always made sure Mamma and I had what we needed.
Although he was tired every night he came home he still read to me.
I walk further into the room instantly remembering Papa had books he wrote in. He recorded his days of his life in those. I place the luggage on the bed and go searching. Searching the chest of drawers and nightstands in the room I came up empty.
I look over to the wardrobe Papa himself had made and it clicked. He always told me to never get in there when I was little.
I walk over and open the wardrobe to find a few suits pushes to the side and dress bags. I look to the top of the wardrobe finding a box.
As I reach up to grab it on my toe I push one knee out to push me up. My knee hits the back of the wardrobe. " Ow!" I hiss to myself, but still grab the box regardless.
I noticed when I hit the back though... It was hollow.
----------------------------------------------------
Sitting on the bed with the box in front of me. I think of examining the wardrobe once I go through the box. I open the flap to the vintage box to find old pictures in black and white of Mamma, her veil, jewelry, and more pictures that seem older.
I look at the pictures of their wedding day and smile to myself. I instantly become puzzled by the older pictures as I lay them all out. The older pictures are of Papa when he was younger holding a pickaxe, one of him in a suit with two other guys that were standing beside him arms crossed, and there is one of Papa that is sepia toned that looked burned around the edges.
I look at the one with the two guys the longest because for some reason to me it stood out.
It was like Papa was there leader, or boss, like some cool kid gang.
I keep wondering about one in particular who looks so familiar. It was as if I had seen him before. He had long black hair, what looked to be grey or blue eyes, and a slight stubble. He looked to be the youngest of them.
I lay everything back in the box. I get up going to the wardrobe 'Why would Papa have these old pictures? Why would he keep such things from me? I couldn't help but wonder to myself.
I knock on every edge of the wall inside of the wardrobe. Finding the hollow spot again I began pushing the back of wardrobe. It sounds as if a door hinge was being pushed against.
I try pulling the panel of the wardrobe to the side it instantly clicks coming open like a door. There are stairs that curve to the right as if they spiral down.
I go into the living room and grab a lantern. I place a stick into the hearth and light the lantern.
I walk back into the room and walk down into the wardrobe. 'This is really insane. Why am I even going down here?' I questioned myself in my thoughts.
I step down into a Stonewall pathway that had sunlight coming through what looked like an opening at the end. At this moment, I felt as if I was taken and placed inside of an Indiana Jones movie.
I begin to walk through the pathway feeling a breeze from outside rolling in. I step into the unknown area it kind of looked like Papa's farm, but that was miles away I thought.
I began to walk and look around the sun was still up. I click the knob to the lantern to turn it off. It looks as if rain is about hit so I have to hurry whatever expedition I am on. I walk over a hill seeing a burial place to my right.
I, always being the curious cat, walk down to examine the stones. I seen the name Dimoni on the back.
I thought I could hear the fluttering of wings only to turn around and find nothing there. I look back toward the stones and a raven sat on top looking toward me. I stare questionably at the bird and it looks off toward the ocean nearby.
I would have to expedition tomorrow. I turn and go back toward the tunnel only to hear wings flapping away.
I go back inside of the house and shut the panel. I place my head in my hands after shutting the wardrobe. 'What does all of this even mean?'