Up The Walk

by Vlad Taltos

This is one of several stories written for my Creative Writing class. In this we had two lines, "He/she started up the walk," and, "He/she opened the door," and the story had to begin and end with the lines. Criticism is welcome.

Up The Walk

Vance started up the walk, briefcase in hand. His gaze flicked up to the windows as he went. It was a beautiful house, modeled in Old Victorian style and freshly painted a subdued blue. The color was an odd combination of hue, which suggested a feminine touch and shade, which was dark enough that a proud man would still be able to live in the house with an untarnished reputation. Vance certainly was not so vain, and simply enjoyed the color. Then his eyes fell back to the door.

Seeing it brought back fond memories. Walking up to the same door several years previously in a suit, knocking and asking a burly father-in-law-to-be if Astrid was ready. Then, a while after the prom, he remembered pulling a new couch through the door in the process of moving in. That was only possible because of an unexpected heart attack. Although sad that Astrid had to be walked down The Aisle by her brother, Vance was pleased that the ceremony wasn't interrupted by an drunken burly father-in-law. With him gone, there was no one to stop Vance from moving in, either.

Then walking through the door again, this time with Astrid at his side, back for good after four years at college. The smell of dust briefly came back with the memory. That was when they repainted.

Now here he was, a year after that. Astrid's car was in the drive, so she was already back from work. School loans were evaporating with the income from both of their jobs. No mortgage to worry about, the house had been in her family for a few generations. And for the short term, he had about three hours alone with his wife before a few friends came over for poker. Everything was going great, and he sighed in contentment.

Finally, he opened the door.