The Doorknob

It was a fine, crisp day in early summer as I walked through the forest next to my childhood home, Everything was calm and sweet, just how I remembered it, except for one little thing. I had an eerie feeling come over me, like something was watching, calling me even. I tried to ignore it, but it wouldn’t leave me alone, and if I tried to continue walking in a different direction, the feeling became stronger.

I moved to wear the unsettling feelings that were least bothersome, and I could feel my name whispered over me.

Sarah…

I started to drift in its direction more, keeping myself aware of everything around me. I didn’t want to dive in head first, but it seemed I had little choice. I followed it into a clearing, where the grass was long but thin, and there were no trees for about five feet in every direction.

I saw a gleam in the grass, just a little sparkle in the sunlight. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but still odd. I slowly stepped toward it. The feeling to reach out and grab it overcame me. New words floated in my mind:

Help me…

I closed my eyes, and with a deep breath, I picked it up.

There was silence.

I opened my eyes and in my hand was a door knob. It was heavy, and covered with intricate detail. It was of burnished bronze and had deep grooves that started in the center and flowed outward. A bunch of carnations were carved in the center of the knob.

I turned it over to notice it had an odd shape to it, almost like that of a key. Nothing like the normal turning mechanisms of a door knob, nothing to connect to a knob on the other side of a door. It made me wonder if perhaps it was meant to open a very specific door, one that could only open from one side.

As I studied the end, a new shape surfaced. A small dragon, wrapped around the knob with its head gently dipped in the carnations, looked at me with beady little eyes. Its body lightly pulsated with dim lights.

It spoke to me—not in words—there was no language to it. I simply understood. This creature desired freedom, and it had chosen me to help it.

I looked around, and put my hand to my forehead. My head ached, but I couldn’t let go of the knob. There was no one around to judge me or help me get away. I was in this adventure for all its worth, no matter the consequences.