The Door in the Room

The room is unfamiliar. I don't know how I got here. Susan looked at the room, she could tell by the furnishings, it was a bedroom, I must be dreaming. But everything is so clear. She could see beautiful Victorian style furnishings with the ornate details and luxurious fabrics.

Susan turned and looked for anything familiar. Susan noticed the door behind her I must have come through this door. Opening it, she saw a long tunnel with distorted shapes of muted colors slowly spinning and disappearing in the distance. Susan stared for a moment, did not question what she saw but simply turned back to the room.

Same room, same Victorian style. She could not remember ever being in the room She could not remember being anywhere. Susan looked at the door that led to the tunnel and felt it was a past that she could no longer return to. 

Susan smoothed the back of her clothes before sitting down in an upholstered chair. She could feel the texture of velvet, soft ,rich. What is this I am wearing? Susan had not even considered what she or her clothes looked like. She got up and looked in the mirror leaning against the wall, Susan stared at herself as if seeing herself for the first time. She was wearing a long velvet robe, her long silky brown hair laid in curls below her shoulders. Susan stared at her reflection, for a brief moment she saw the reflection of an older woman, few wrinkles, shorter hair, wearing a dark robe with simple piping. Startled, Susan jumped Who is that?  She closed her eyes tight and then opening them, she looked and again saw her reflection with smooth skin, silky hair, and a long velvet robe. Susan sat back down.

There was a knock at the door. “Yes?” Susan answered. A quiet young lady came in carrying a tray with a tea service. “Your tea ma’am,” setting the tray on the table, “Shall I pour?” “ Yes, thank you”

When the young girl was through serving the tea, she curtsied and asked if there was anything else. Susan couldn’t think of anything, she really had no clue if she should think of something. 

As the girl was about to leave, Susan quickly asked “Tell me Anna, how long have you been my maid in waiting?”  How do I know that? How do I know her name?

“ I have been here three years and for the lat two yers I have served as your maid in waiting. Ma’am? Have I done something to offend you?” “Oh no dear, quite contrary, you have been a gem to me and a confidante. I only wanted to know if you have been happy here” “Oh yes, ma’am, vey much. You and the Duke have ben most kind. Will there be anything else ma’am?” “No that is all, thank you”

Duke?

Susan sipped her tea and settled in her chair. The warm tea was smooth as it glided over her lips. Anna always serves such delicious tea.When she had finished, there was a knock at the door. “Are you ready my dear?” a pleasant male voice asked.

“Yes, just one minute,” Susan stood up and walked to the mirror for a final look. She stopped short, What if I see that older woman? Was that me? Is that who I am? Susan shook her head trying to remove the image and questions from her mind.

Susan looked again, she had on a beautiful gown, with velvet choker, her hair was styled on top of her head with soft loose tendril curls framing her face, a diamond and ruby tiara sat on the crown of her head. She wore white opera gloves. She closed he her eyes and opened them, her reflection was the same. 

 Satisfied with her look, she reached for her clutch and reached for the door knob and stopped. Will I see a tunnel again? 

“Susan,” the man called. “Yes,Charles, coming,” Charles? Yes, I know his name. Susan took in a deep breath and opened the door.The man stared at her, “A true vision of loveliness as always” offering his arm. Susan smiling, not thinking of any tunnel or questions, took his arm. “Thank you Charles and you are looking dapper as usual.” They turned and waked out the door, the same door that earlier led to a distorted tunnel.

Susan walked into a parlor with Charles and saw several couples, each elegantly dressed . You could hear stringed instruments playing in the background. They stood before a curtain with two young men with white gloves holding the edge of each side, waiting for their cue to pull back the drapes. A clear and distinct voice on the other side could be heard. “Presenting the Duke and Duchess of Peterborough” 

The drapes opened and Susan walked through on Charles's arm. They were on top of a grand staircase, a large group of people standing around the ballroom floor, started clapping. When they reached the center of the floor, he bowed to her and she curtsied. The musicians started to play a waltz and the Duke and Duchess glided effortlessly around the floor. After a couple minutes the Duke motioned for others to join. Susan did not want this evening, this moment to end.

 As the music was fading Susan noticed that the people seemed to be fading as well. She could see Charles talking to some men. There was a growing distance between Charles and her. Susan turned toward the grand staircase, instead of stairs there was a door. I need to go through it.

Susan walked through the door and then turned back to the room, it was empty, no musicians, no people, no Charles, just a swirling tunnel of distorted shapes and colors disappearing in the distance. Susan turned back around, she was in the Victorian style bedroom. She placed her clutch on the table, and stoped at the mirror. She looked at her reflection, smooth skin, beautiful gown, gloves and tiara. What else did I expect to see?

There was a knock on the door, “Come” the door opened and Anna entered. “Shall I help you retire for the evening ?” “Yes, Anna,” Susan sat at the dressing table, wearing a long satin night gown. Anna was brushing her hair. “Did you and the Duke have a lovely evening?” “ Yes, thank you, quite delightful” “ Will there be anything else?” Anna asked. “No, you may go and Anna?” “Yes, my lady?” “Thank you” “You’re welcome” Anna said with a smile, curtsied and left.

There was another knock, Charles asked, “May I enter?” Putting on her robe, Susan opened the door. “ I just wanted to say what a wonderful evening I had my dear and to tell you to sleep well. I am going to the drawing room to read.” “Don't stay up too late dear” Charles gave Susan a light kiss on the cheek and left the room.

Susan slept fairly well. She had the sensation that she had dreamt something but at the moment, could not remember any details, only feelings. She no longer felt unworthy and insignificant. Susan had a feeling of being loved and cherished She felt that she was somebody.

 She looked at the door, recalling a tunnel of distorted shapes and colors. Was that a dream? Am I dreaming?

 There was a knock at the door. She heard Anna,“Good morning ma’am. Sleep well?” “Yes, I did, thank you.” A stream of light shone into the room, when Anna pulled back the drapes. 

Susan got out of bed and slipped on her robe. Anna asked if she was going down for breakfast and if she wanted help getting ready for the day. “I will be down for breakfast shortly. I will be fine getting ready. Why don't you take these extra few minutes and go downstairs and have a nice cup of tea and biscuits yourself? If anyone asks what you are doing, you just tell them it is the Duchess’s wish that you enjoy a cup of tea with biscuits this morning.”Anna smiled “Thank you,” curtsied and left the room.

Susan dressed, stopped at the mirror, taking a look before leaving the room.She looked presentable, ready for breakfast. She reached for the door knob and stopped remembering seeing a distorted tunnel. 

Are those tunnels parts of dreams or are they reality fading from my mind like dreams forgotten? 

Susan looked around the room, the Victorian style furnishings, the rich luxurious fabrics. She remembered Anna serving her tea, Charles escorting her to the ball them dancing. She remembered every detail, everything. 

She seemed to recall memories with Charles, the house and events as Duke and Duchess. Memories, perhaps lost or maybe never existed, but now hers. 

Susan looked around the room. If this is a dream, I do not want to wake up. Susan took a deep breath, and opened the door.