The Unopened Door🔊

Once upon a time in the rustic town of Winsboro lived a peculiar elderly man named Harold. He was known for his eccentricity and enigmatic persona. His house, standing at the top of a hill, was just as unusual and perplexing as its owner. People were fascinated yet intimidated by the mysterious wooden door at the back of Harold's house. The peculiar thing was, this door was always locked. No one had ever seen him use it or knew what lay behind it.

As tales of the unopened door reached the ears of a young, curious boy named Sam, he was wound up by intrigue. Sam was known for his boundless curiosity and fearlessness. Sam's fascination with Harold's door soon turned into an obsession. He decided to unravel the mystery of the unopened door.

One freezing winter's night, equipped with a small flashlight and brimming determination, Sam sneaked into Harold's house. Awestruck by the house's grandeur, an eerie silence echoed, and shadows danced on the walls. Gingerly, he moved towards the well-known, unentered door at the back. As Sam reached it, he felt a shiver run through his spine. Before he could approach it further, a warm hand wrapped around his shoulder.Fear surged through his body, and he turned to find old man Harold staring at him, not with anger, but with understanding.

'You're here for the door, aren't you?' Harold asked, his voice unwavering. Sam, nodding, was led by Harold to the mysterious door. As he unlocked the door, a rush of dust swirled, and they stepped into a darkened room. Harold switched on the light revealing an impressive library filled with ancient books, maps, artifacts, and journals.

Overwhelmed by the sight, Sam gaped at Harold. Harold, with a mysterious smile, said, 'This is not just a library, but a treasury of my adventures, my lost friends, and a past I fail to bury.' He explained to Sam how he was once an adventurer, exploring the ends of the world until a tragic incident took away his beloved friends and ended his days of exploration.

Harold took an old photograph from a dusty shelf showing him and his companions. 'They were the heart of my adventures. When they died. so did a part of me. I locked up this room, hoping it would lock up the pain too,' Harold shared, his voice wavering with grief. The door was kept locked not because of harboring secrets but as a memorial for Harold's companions.

Since that night, Sam visited Harold every day. They shared stories of past adventures and dreams of distant lands. The boy's curiosity nurtured the adventurer in Harold, and together, they explored the depths of the old man's memories. Sam will always remember the tale of the unopened door, not as a mystery but as the tale of friendship and mourning behind it