Thanks for reading this weird story!  And the great reviews, very encouraging for me to write more. I'm sorry it's taking so long, just been really busy…hehe, have a good week everybody. Happy Columbus Day!

..Sunny

Something caught in his throat, and he coughed, almost choking. He wondered if it was just the start of a cold…or maybe, a sob. He wondered why he was looking through all of this again…dredging it up again. It didn't need to be. It was best to be put back in the closet. But he couldn't move. He wanted to…to sit there and go through it again. A small smile crossed his face as he realized that…that he missed it. He missed it all. He missed them.

He was just shifting the belts (which he touched delicately) when he thought he heard a noise from the stairs. He paused. Was she coming? He didn't want her to see him like this. But it was quiet again. He shrugged, rotating his shoulders gently. He coughed gently and felt the satin of the black belt kiss his calloused hands. It slipped from his hands and coiled itself on the ground.

(A tattered piece of paper. It has been folded many times. Yellowed with age.)

Faded.

Smudged.

Lines and words cover the page.

They are hard to read.

The title has been touched so many times that it is non existent.

Some notes are partially visible. They have lasted because of their bright red ink. They read:

Left door. Twist once up, twice right. Pull. Library.

Right door. Twist left, down once. Push. Dining hall.

North door. Twist four up, three left. Pull, push. Bedroom.

South door. Rub handle. Push. Out.

There is a sketch in the corner of the paper. It is now obvious that the paper is a map, a used one at that. The sketch is of a castle with many towers.

(A cloak. A faded red.)

Still silky.

Dust clings to it.

This cloak has seen better years. A pale, purple ribbon is tied through a loop. A charm dangles from the ribbon. The charm is embedded with a clear, blue stone. The charm seems to have no defensive properties. It is pretty.

(A Photograph)

A young woman smiles into the camera. She is dressed in an extravagant yellow dress which billows out behind her. Her brown hair curls in tendrils around her face. The background is out of focus, but one can see trees and flowers.