The key

The parcel that had arrived today, contained an old key and a list of instructions to use it. One this key can only truly be used once. Two be very careful who you give this key to. Three once you have given this key to the right person your life will be full of love.

"Alan what is this key on the table about."

Diane called to her husband in his hobby room. a stream of profanity effortlessly fell from Alans lips before his reply.

"I was hoping you could tell me I got home from the paper shop this morning after you went out to visit Glenda and this box was on doorstep."

"Well that's strange and what about the instructions."

Alan was studying his hand. More bothered about his thumb that was throbbing and the nail was turning black.

"Look what you made me do shouting like that."

"I didn't shout I called nicely. Anyway, if you can't hit a nail without hitting your thumb maybe you should find a new hobby. So what do you think the instructions mean."

"Diane I'm seventy-two year's old I don't know and to be honest I don't care."

Diane tuned the instructions over. Red writing a warning to who ever has this key. If you don't give this key to the right person before six pm four days from the day of receiving it you will spend all eternity alone.

"Alan did you read this bit."

"I read it all Diane. I'm not stupid."

"Evan bit on the back."

"Humm the bit on the back erm maybe I missed that bit."

Diane thrust the paper at his face stopping just short of his nose.

"Well that dosen't sound good does it. But it's probably nonsense pass me the key and I'll throw it in the bin."

"Diane pass me the key and instructions." 

"Why what are you going to do." 

"I've got a plan. Just pass it here." 

Diane picked up the key and passed it to Alan. She didn't think Alan really knew what he was doing but decided to see what he was up to.  

"Thank you. come with me." 

Alan walked out of the back door into the garden. At the bottom of the garden was a small wooded area. As he walked down the garden path he started to tare the paper. That was his intension it didn't tare it twisted and folded but no tearing.  

"Alan what are you doing? Alan." 

Before Diane could say another word Alan had his lighter lit and under the instruction. They didn't burn they melted like plastic dripping onto Alan's skin. His hand and wrist started to turn red. Alan hurled the key into the woods. Diane didn't have a clue what to do she watched in horror as whatever it was melted into Alan's hand burning deeper into his flesh. Alan saw the water butt at the side of his greenhouse. He knocked the flimsy plastic cover off and sunk his hand in. The water hissed and spat with the furious heat eliminating from the hand. Alan could keep quiet no more. A scream burst out of his lips. It made Diane's blood run cold.  

"Alan what do I do." 

Alan continued to keep his hand in the water. Steam drifted up his nostrils. It smelled like burning flesh. The water felt like it was getting hotter. It felt like a pan of water on the hob. Alan pulled his hand out of the scalding heat. His hand was fine not a mark on it. His hand was wet and that was all. Diane burst into tears. Alan stood looking at his had dumbfounded. As Alan stood there dazed Diane ran inside. The slam of the door snapped him back. 

In the house, Diane stood in the doorway to the dining room. 

"Diane what is it, love." 

"Look" 

Alan peeked over her shoulder there in the centre of the dinner table was the key and instructions. Alan put his hands on Diane's waist and moved her to one side so he could pass slowly and carefully picked they up first he looked at the key. It was as though it had never moved. The instructions were very obviously different.  

Alan that was a warning. You can't just throw us away we don't work like that read the instructions again and give the key to the right person. It's not hard really and you will like what happens if you meet the criteria.

Neither Alan nor Diane slept a a wink that night. Alan knew Diane was awake but had no intentione of talking about the evening's events. Diane knew Alan was awake but was far too scared to try and talk about what had happened. In the morning after they had both tossed and turned through the night, they sat to breakfast in silence. They had never gone so long refusing to speak to one another. The tension became too much for Alan. 

"Diane I think I have a solution to our little problem." 

"I'm listening." 

Diane's face was set in stone. Alan had nothing to go on here. Usually, Diane's face told a story on its own and she could not stop it. Alan felt like this woman that he had been married to for forty-five years was a stranger. A smell wafted in taking Alan back to the day he met Diane. It was the smell of the perfume she wore when they first met. With the smell brought forward more memories. There wedding, the day she told him she was pregnant. A holiday that was a complete disaster from start to finish that they laugh about from time to time. The day he woke up in hospital after a car accident and Diane was there holding his hand crying silently. Memories came from all directions and not one was bad when he thought about it they all made him feel fantastic. Every memory told him how much Diane loved him. 

"Diane I think we have to give the key to someone deserving. To someone who needs some happiness." 

"And who do you think that should be." 

Alan really did not recognize his wife she was hard-faced. Not the gentile features he saw all them years ago. She didn't look like the same woman he had breakfast with yesterday. 

"Diane looks at me did the paper come this morning." 

"yes" 

"Excellent. There will be some sort ok f hard-luck story on someone local in there we give them the key there happy we're happy." 

Diane said nothing. Alan started to read. As he did Diane smelled flour. Not the sort of flour people has in there kitchen but the sort from a bakery. It was a mixer with the smell of dough and sweet things. That was what Alan smelled of the day she met him he had just finished work and Diane was on her way to her part-time job. Like with Alan memories came to her the way he never let a door close on her. The time he got into a fight over someone flirting with her in a bar. The time he got really drunk and laid his coat over a puddle so she could walk on it and keep dry. Then he realized that he had left his fags and money in his coat pocket and he then put the coat on. Memory after memory. All caused by one smell and all linked together. 

"Diane I have the man. He has been through hell and come out on the other side to then get cancer and is on the vvverge of losing his house. Let's go give him the key and get back to normal." 

"Ok you get the key I'm not touching it." 

Alan wenot to pick up the key it didn't move. Alan put more effort into it still nothing. The table shook and rattled but that didn't move either. He started to hit at it and kick. That's when Alans back cracked. He dropped to his knees moving his arm was almost too much to bear never mind try to stand. Diane rushed to his side. Her arms moved around him but did not touch like some kind of strange mine. 

"Alan, what do, you need me to do? How can I help?" 

" I think I have got the key wrong again. Come up with a new plan and maybe it will release me." 

"Ok let me think ermm. Err. I've got one." 

Alan screamed in pain as the pain in his body intensified. He dropped onto his side screaming.  

"What did you do." 

"I don't have a plan I lied." 

"its ok I do." 

Alan's body began to relax the pain eased. Slowly he got to his feet with a little help from Diane.  

"Go on then what's your plan now." 

Alan leaned in and kissed Diane as he picked up the key. 

"I give it to you." 

Diane looked at him in shock. Alan opened his hand with the key flat on his palm. 

"If my theory is correct it's the key to my heart. Only you can have it for me to be happy." 

Tears rolled down Diane's face like a car without breaks going down a hill. A don't bubble formed and popped. 

"Diane your not pretty when you cry please stop." 

"You soppy sod. Give me that key after all these years I still love you for some strange reason." 

Diane took the key out of Alan's hand as soon as she had picked it up. Alan dropped to his knees clutching at his chest all colour drained from his face. The key glowed brightly in her hand. Thinking fast she went to the instructions. 

Tell the truth if you love him back and want him to live.  

Was the new instruction. Diane looked at the paper and then to Alan. Poor innocent Alan he had been faithful all of there marriage. Unfortunately, Diane knew she hadn't not long after they got married her boss got very friendly with her. In a few weeks, she managed to get pregnant, the baby wasn't Alan's and she never told him. The look of pain and confusion on his face was almost unbearable. But not quite. Diane put the key on top of the institutions then went to Alan. Holding his head in her arms they both wept. 

"Alan the paper is blank. Don't give up ill ring for an ambulance." 

Taking off her Cardigan and folding it to make a pillow Diane went into the hall. Making no effort to ring for help but acted like she was Alan couldn't see her but he could hear her. He thought up until his last breath he had the perfect wife. 

The end