When one door closes...

As soon as my eyes open, the dream fades away, which I'm glad for. It was more of a nightmare anyway, and it plays on repeat, night after night.

The gladness of waking up from a nightmare quickly turns to vigilance because I can hear someone. The fact that I live alone, not by choice but by the choices I've made, makes it creepy to hear another human voice in the house. In broad daylight, it would've been a delight but at this bewitching hour it's, well, bewitching!

As my eyes adjust to the gloom, I begin to notice a rectangular outline. It's a door and it's almost at the base of my bed. Well, better than the head of a horse, I surmise.

"If you open the door," the voice permeates the darkness, "it will take you to any time you wish..."

Then, it fades away into eerie silence again and I pinch myself until I wince just to confirm that I'm awake. The door is still there and appears to be crimson in colour. Then, in a classic dolly-zoom style, it looms towards me.

***

That was the first of July, three years ago; the day after my performance review at work. I'd broken the good news, as I had seen it, to my wife. She was quiet for a while even as she smiled broadly.

"Honey, you don't need the added stress," She stroked my hair, "I believe we can manage without you accepting this promotion!"

I knew she was right and always had my back. However, the thrill of moving up the corporate ladder and the power that comes with it was too much to be calmed by simple ruffling of my hair.

"Remi--" I chose my words carefully, "Just imagine! We can move to a bigger house, a better neighbourhood and... and you can buy the stuff you've always wanted. I can buy you the stuff you've always wanted. More money never hurt anyone, baby."

"I know, I know..." Remi's smile turned to a frown, "But the kids look forward to the weekends--to spend time with you--with us! Can't we be content with the happiness we already have?"

As it turned out, I wasn't content. I wanted more, a lot more. I'd seen the look on my kids' faces when we couldn't afford the things they coveted and also remembered how I had grown up with longings myself.

So, I took that promotion, and the next. It led me so far up the ladder that everyone I loved could not keep up. My incessant travel slowly separated us until there was no going back for me. And when I did, there was nobody waiting for me at home.

All I have now is the empty house and my bagful of empty ambitions.

***

I hold the doorknob of the crimson door and turn it. Thirtieth of June, Twenty Twenty One, I muttered, and push it open.