Vault
Nate fished out the key from his coat pocket and unlocked the heavy, steel door. It slammed shut behind him, leaving the sound to echo off the walls. He stood in the metal room alone with rows of locked boxes staring back at him.
He wished he didn't have to come down here. He hated how this place smelled of his father's mistakes. Nate walked forward and pulled out another key. The long, silver box came out in his arms, cradled in his arms. Nate walked to the square table and placed it on the surface. He shoved back the top, letting it roll back until the objects inside it winked at him. He swallowed.
A picture of he and his father was in there, crinkled from time. Nate picked it up by a weathered corner and stared at his smiling face. They went to the zoo that day. His dad bought him ice cream. He still remembered how his teeth froze from the abundance of strawberry.
He stuffed the picture back in the container then dug deeper. Nate came across his grandmother's pearls, an old sketch of his family's crest, a wad of bills, and finally, the item he desired. Nate cupped his mother's engagement ring in his hand. It was a deep sapphire stone set in gold with little leaf etchings surrounding the stone. He remembered driving his mother to the vault the day she put these keep sakes in here.
"For safe keeping," she said. From what danger, he didn't understand then. When she took off the ring and placed it inside, he questioned her. Why would she put her favourite ring away like this? She didn't answer. She didn't need to.
Now, Nate placed the ring in his pocket. His cell phone went off.
Did you find it?
"Yes Mom, it's where you kept it."
His mother sighed. Oh good. I hope it still looks alright. Do you need to take it to the jeweler's first? Will it fit her?
Nate rolled his eyes. "It will be just fine, Mom. You don't need to worry."
Who's worried? I just want to make sure everything goes just right. I didn't think you would even ask to-
"Mom!" he laughed. "Stop. It'll be fine." I hope.
I know it will, sweetie. I'll let you go. Buy some flowers!
"Yes, Mother," he sighed.
Nate hung up then pulled the ring out again. He saw Serena's eyes staring up at him in that stone. Trying not to break his face as he grinned, Nate left the vault for Serena's. Maybe flowers would be a good idea.
