Once they moved into their new house, he demanded a separate office solely for his things. Maggie agreed and was told that she was never allowed to go into that room.
Though it was an odd request, she decided it was simply one of his quirks. However, when he passed away, she had to go into his office and look. She found a safe, which changed her whole outlook on her husband. What was inside?
The Secret Room
Maggie cautiously went into the room she was excluded from all these years, finally getting the nerve to open that locked door. Was her husband hiding something sinister? She didn’t expect what she saw, but she had to start going through things!
The Secret Room
Too Many Locks
There was a locked cabinet full of keys, so she broke it open. Within, there was a large safe. She laughed out loud and said,” more secrets!” What could have been happening with her husband to have all those keys and safe in a cabinet?
Too Many Locks
The Reveal
She finally found the code to the safe and was shocked to see what was inside. Now, Maggie wondered how her husband could have kept such a large secret from her. Didn’t he feel confident she would stand by him? It was a little crazy.
The Reveal
The Key
Maggie stopped and looked at the key she held. It had an intricate pattern that she’d never seen before. In fact, it was a little heavy. Peter, her husband, kept it with him all the time, sleeping with it. Now, she could unlock his past!
The Key
A Little Scary
Her husband had been very secretive about this, and he probably had a good reason. Therefore, she was scared to open the door; what if it was a mistake? Maggie chose to wait until the funeral was over since Peter’s death had been a surprise.
A Little Scary
Building the Dream Home
Maggie didn’t want to be alone and loved living with Peter. They did so much together, and now she didn’t have him. In fact, they designed the home from scratch and built it to their preferences. Though retired, Peter demanded an extra office.
Building the Dream Home
Eva
The funeral was in a few days, and Peter’s coffin was in the living room. She sat next to it, asking questions and wondering if she could say goodbye. Eva was their only daughter, and Maggie had asked her to be there so that she wasn’t alone. However, she was abroad.
Eva
Hello Again
When her daughter arrived, they embraced since they hadn’t seen each other for about a year. Eva told her mother she was sorry she hadn’t visited more often. Maggie said it was okay and that everyone gets busy, though she didn’t believe it.
Hello Again
Lying to Eva
The pair walk through the house, passing that locked door. Though Maggie had the key, she lied when her daughter asked about it. She claimed that Peter had hidden it somewhere in their house before he passed, and she hadn’t found it yet!
Lying to Eva
Saying Goodbye
The day of the funeral arrived, and Maggie got dressed. Then, she saw her daughter crouched beside the locked door, picking the lock! Though fearful, she simply told Eva not to bother because it wouldn’t budge. However, Eva saw something around her mom’s neck!
Saying Goodbye
No Time
Eva asked again if her mom had found the key for the locked room, but she was told no. She knew this was a lie. Eva wanted desperately to know, but there wasn’t enough time because her flight left the next day. This was a delicate moment, as well.
No Time
Anger Toward Peter
The funeral for Peter was beautiful, but now her husband’s coffin was in the ground. Now, the only thing she had left was that mysterious room. Maggie couldn’t help but feel angry. It wasn’t his fault for dying suddenly unable to write a note or say goodbye, though.
Anger Toward Peter
Forgetting About His Room
She wanted to get into the room but couldn’t. It might change how she remembered Peter. Though her daughter was also curious, she waited. She’d actually been biding her time for a while, so a few more days couldn’t hurt her.
Forgetting About His Room
Old Memories
One month went by, and Maggie thought less of that room. However, she started getting lonely and wanted to connect to her late husband. She needed something to spark the old memory, such as a photograph or a book he loved to read.
Old Memories
Searching the Home
Maggie searched through the house, walking past his office. She’d left the key in her drawer by the bed and now felt urged to put it around her neck. Something drew her to that room, but she didn’t know what.
Searching the Home
Slight Panic
She went searching for the key, but it wasn’t where she’d left it. Had Eva found it and taken it? She couldn’t break open that door without it. Maggie had to have that key! She tried letting it go, but the thought remained!
Slight Panic
Behind the Drawer
Overall, Maggie knew she was alone in this. She had misplaced it and had to stop blaming others for her mistake. When she glanced behind her drawer, she noticed something shiny. It could be the key, but she wasn’t sure.
Behind the Drawer
Very Heavy
Her drawer was very heavy, and she couldn’t move it herself. Therefore, she needed a lever of some sort. Finally, the drawer came away from the wall, and her husband’s office key was there on the floor. How did it fall behind there? Maggie didn’t think she’d done it!
Very Heavy
Rumbling Noise
Maggie now heard rumbling noises. She had no idea where they came from, but she knew they were inside her house. She didn’t know whether to hide or try to find out what the sounds were. What did she decide?!
Rumbling Noise
Curiosity
All of these strange things happening made her more curious about that locked room. Was someone inside it looking for something? Maybe it was time for her to go inside and see what was there. She finally found the courage to walk toward the door.
Curiosity
Pounding Heart
She stood before the door and fitted the key into the lock. Her heart pounded in her chest, and now her palms were sweaty. Maggie will finally get to see what’s in this room. There had to be something in there, so she turned the key.
Pounding Heart
Opening the Door
She pushed open the door but didn’t move. In fact, she wasn’t sure how to react to all that she saw inside. Maggie hadn’t been in this room before, so she stood at the opening, looking around, though she hadn’t expected this!
Opening the Door
Can’t Believe Her Eyes
Roughly five minutes went by before she finally went into the room. She simply couldn’t believe her eyes! Maggie felt slightly relieved because it looked ordinary to her. However, something had to be hidden within for Peter to lock it up tight.
Can’t Believe Her Eyes
Opening the Curtains
Maggie spotted a beautiful desk and some books she didn’t know they owned, but it was dark. Therefore, she opened the curtains to find one open. Why would the window be opened? She closed it and gasped once she turned around. The light revealed something more!
Opening the Curtains
Picking Up a Book
She sat down in his favorite chair and grabbed a book while a tear rolled down her cheek. Maggie missed her husband. The room smelled just like him, but why had he been secretive about it all? She saw something strange as she pondered that question.
Picking Up a Book
Locked Cabinet
Maggie glanced to the other side of that room, seeing a locked cabinet. Though she was upset that there was another lock, she didn’t hesitate this time. She got a heavy candle holder from his desk and pounded on it.
Locked Cabinet
Breaking This Lock
To her utter surprise, the lock broke fairly easily. Now, she opened the cabinet doors, spotting a large safe. She knew that’s why he had locked up the room and thought his big secret was contained inside. Finally, she would get answers to her questions!
Breaking This Lock
Extremely Heavy
The safe wasn’t easy to open because it was very heavy and featured a six-digit code. She tried a few things, such as their birthdates and anniversary date, but nothing worked. Now, Maggie was desperate because she had to figure out what was inside it!
Extremely Heavy
Locksmith
The only thing she could do to open the safe was to call a locksmith specializing in such things. If anyone could do it, he could. However, it was late when she called, so the professional said it had to wait until the next day.
Locksmith
Old Safe
He arrived the next day, and he gaped when he saw her safe. In fact, he told Maggie it had to be at least 70 years old. She wondered why Peter had kept his secrets from her for that many years, but she’d soon have answers.
Old Safe
Finding the Code
Now, Maggie wondered if her late husband had a notebook in one of the drawers with the code on it. She had to find it because the locksmith might fail to open it with his skills. Therefore, she pulled everything out of those cubby holes.
Finding the Code
Little Black Box
Maggie started pulling everything out and almost gave up before seeing something that might help. There was a little black box inside a drawer, and she wondered if it had been there all that time. How had she missed it? This was just one more part of the mystery.
Little Black Box
Opening the Box
She opened up the box and saw a note inside. It pretty much said that if she was reading it, he was no longer with her, and he’d seen it coming for a while. He mentioned the safe and asked forgiveness for hiding the secret. Then, he revealed the code: 865203.
Opening the Box
Wiping Away Tears
Maggie had to wipe tears from her eyes. Though he knew it was coming, he hadn’t warned her. What could be contained in this safe that he couldn’t express to his own wife? She was curious but also scared to open it.
Wiping Away Tears
Calling the Locksmith
She had to call the locksmith and ask for the safe back because he’d taken it with him to open. Maggie was lucky as he hadn’t started on it yet, so he took it back the next morning. Now, she’d get the answers to her questions!
Calling the Locksmith
The Moment
Maggie sat in her late husband’s office, looking at the note and the safe. Finally, she’ll know what he hid from her for all those years. It was the moment she’d wanted, but now she worried she’d regret looking inside.
The Moment
Click
She tried the code he provided and heard a click. After twisting the knob, the door began to open. It was heavy and creaked while it moved. Her heart raced in her chest because she knew something was in that safe. Maggie was quite nervous!
Click
His Past
Overall, she started to remember asking about his past and getting no answers. She’d stopped questioning him, but she was interested in where he came from and his family. He always said he’d lost everyone in a house fire, but that was a lie!
His Past
Family Photographs
Inside the safe, there were many family photos and even letters from his family members. He had been in contact with all of them for years. Why would he lie about that? Then, she saw a small yellow paper.
Family Photographs
Birth Certificate
She’d found Peter’s birth certificate, but it didn’t look like an American one. She realized that Peter hadn’t been born in the USA. He’d left behind his family and immigrated here. Though she was upset he never told her, she forgave him because of the love they shared!
Birth Certificate