Roses and Thorns

Choose a door. Any door. There are seven, because it is the nature of reality that mysterious and unexplainable things should come in sevens. The doors are practically unadorned, because who is here to adorn them? You are here to choose a door, and you must do so carefully. A decision such as the one that is before you now should not be taken lightly - who knows what consequences the future may hold?

I do.

I did say the doors were almost unadorned. Look closely at the doorknob, finely wrought of some metal that gleams in the dim space you stand. No, not the keyhole. Right above - no, a little down. There you go. Inscribed upon the wood right above the doorknob is an intricately detailed carving. You may examine each door, you will find that they have unique patterns. From this choice is your future decided. I cannot stress how incredibly important -

Did you just open a door? You did didn’t you. You didn’t even look at the carvings on all of them. I call that inconsiderate. No sense of the drama of the moment.

Well, right, yes. Anyways. You chose the door with a botanical carving. A fine stem supports a large blossom, petals almost seeming to push out of the wood. When you look closer, you notice that this particular flower has danger attached as well. When you carefully picked your door, you inferred (right?) that this is the door of opposites. Of right, and wrong, and death, and life. Of doors that close and windows that open. Of the choices that -

Are you following? Sure? Right. Where was I? Of the choices that define our deepest selves and lend meaning to existence. What an interesting, deeply considered, thoughtful choice. I’m sure you know the significance of this carving. Yes, I know you do. Large flower, thorns, has lots of publicity. ALL RIGHT IT’S A ROSE! Oh my god. What am I even doing this for, I mean, seriously. How obvious can you get?

Whew. Ok. You open the door, which swings soundlessly into the room. At once your senses are assaulted by a cacophony of smells and sights (the auditory element is somewhat lacking). Smells of fresh dirt and new life pervade the atmosphere - yes I know what new life smells like. Come on, haven’t you ever been anywhere after it rained? Next, the visual. Bright light floods the room, making everything in it stand in sharp relief. On tables lining the walls are small boxes, each closed to the outer world. This is the hub, where the great powers that constantly strive against one another are balanced to form a working universe. Water and fire. Love and hate. Truth and lies. The number of times a week you need to clean your room. Things that can never be fully resolved and are inevitably and eternally a point of conflict.

What power is contained in this very room? What secrets could be unlocked by the lone adventurer, guided by their good decision making skills and their stop looking at me like that I swear-

*clear throat*

What power, what secrets, what visions of beauty are in these locked boxes? What failings, what horrific events might you uncover? You came here to choose a door. You came here because you question reality and the events therein. Now you have a new choice, last but not least important. Choose a box, or leave forever?

Make sure to close the door on your way out.