The Locked Door

Part 10

Walker pushed the screw driver further in and levered it against the door jam. The door swung forward and he grabbed it and pulled so the lock parted. The door was free of the opening now and lifting it he set it against the wall to one side.

Jaya hadn’t moved. The space beyond the door was dark and for some reason she could not bring herself to go in there.

Walker turned back to look at her and he must have read her expression. Bending he pulled a torch out of his tool box and holding out his hand he said “I’ll come with you.”

Jaya lifted her eyes to look at him. She felt stupid but she could not move. To her relief he did not appear to be making fun of her. His expression was serious but kind. Jaya put her hand in his and after turning on the torch he turned towards the door. “Sorry” she said.

He turned back and smiled “forget about it, a room that’s been locked up for decades is a bit creepy.”

Jaya smiled. She did not believe that he was affected in any way but she appreciated him pretending he was. She also liked his large warm hand wrapped around hers.

“Right here we go” he said and led the way towards the doorway.

Jaya’s heart was beating fast as she followed the torch light around the room. 

After a few seconds she was no longer afraid, but still she did not want to relinquish his hand. The room was a nursery, that was easy to see, but it was a nursery of a time decades before.

“Oh wow” Jaya said as she stepped forward releasing Walker in her distraction. Everything was covered in dust and while she ran her hand over the crib a single bulb clicked on over head. She turned her head and saw that Walker had found a light switch near the door. Her eyes continued to scan the room and she was overcome with sadness. After opening the chest of drawers and seeing the tiny clothes folded and put away neatly Jaya could not hold back the tears forming in her eyes. “They must have lost a child” she said.

“Yes” Walker said.

Jaya blinked to clear the tears as she continued to open drawers.

“Will I pull this down?” Walker said.

Jaya turned and saw his hand was on the cloth covering the window.

“Yes it will have to come down” she said.

Walker grabbed the fabric and pulled and a moment later sunlight flooded the tiny room.

“Can you see if the window opens please?” she said.

“Sure” he said and within moments the window opened with an audible creak.

“This is so sad” Jaya said as she continued to go through the baby clothes. “This must have been their first child. Maybe they couldn’t bear to part with this stuff but couldn’t look at it either?”

“Sounds reasonable” he said. He too was looking around. In the corner of the room was a rocking chair and it creaked and groaned as he set it in motion.

“It must be devastating to lose a child” she said closing the last drawer.

“Yes” he said.