[ WP ] She opened the box ; it was empty .

It was our 3rd anniversary and I did n't know what to get Emily, she was of a different breed. If I had gotten her flowers or jewelry it would have hurt her feelings. She was weird like that. She did n't go for `` normal''; those types of gifts were too impersonal for her. 
 
 I had been searching in every little shop down the street I worked, yard sales, flea markets, rummage sales, thrift stores, and I even went dumpster diving behind a huge shopping complex. I had n't found anything that was suitable for her. I had 1 day left before our dinner date. 
 
 I ended up looking in what I swear is every single little store in the entire city. I left each one empty handed. I was on my way home when I decided to get something to eat. I was in the neighborhood to try a place my buddy had told about me recently and thought `` why not?'' I picked up a quick sandwich and headed back to my car when I saw a tiny store front in between a bar and a head shop. 
 
 There was n't a sign other than the neon `` open'' sign but something about to drew me in. The number on the door said `` one-hundred-one and a half'' I opened the door to the smallest store I've ever seen, the lights were dim and everything looked quite old. The walls were racked with furniture hanging from hooks, presumably to increase their storage spaces. 
 
 Tables, chairs, armoires, and bookshelves climbing clear to the ceiling on each wall. Stacks and stacks of shelves and cabinets, every piece more intricate than the last.I must have stood in the doorway for 5 solid minutes just taking in the sight of all the beautiful things. I hardly noticed an old man had shuffled his way to me. 
 
 `` We should have what you're looking for, Alex.'' 
 
 It did n't register to me that this man should n't know my name, I was being drawn into this place by something. I walked aimlessly to the back of the long narrow space. Along the back wall was an elegant display case that housed many small items, one in particular caught my eye. It was a small oval wooden box with an opal and wooden lattice design on the top. 
 
 `` Did you find what brought you here, sir?'' The old man said 
 
 `` Yes'' I replied, distantly. 
 
 I do n't remember paying for the box, or leaving the store... Or driving home for that matter. 
 
 I woke up from a nap I did n't remember laying down for. I felt like I had ran a marathon. I looked at my watch and it read 6:04pm OCT 17. 
 I did a double take. The 17th? I'M LATE! I frantically search for my phone and hit Emily's number. 
...... `` You have reach the mailbox of 3-0-4-1.. 
 I hung up and called back as I started running round my apartment getting dressed. 
 
 `` hello?'' 
 
 `` Babe!! Listen, I do n't know what happened. I took a nap and forgot to set an alarm... I'm on my way right now!'' 
 
 I got to Raymond's just in time to see Emily slumped down at the bar, they wo n't even seat you until your entire party is there. I get to the hostess and tell her I'm a doofus and slip her a twenty and tell her to make it up for me. As I walk up to the table I remembered that I forgot to brush my hair. I pulled her chair out and see that I have on two different shoes. How does she love me? 
 
 `` I'm sorry babe, I do n't know what I was thinking. I have no excuse. Happy anniversary'' 
 
 `` I wanted to be mad at you the entire time I sat here, but I knew you'd be here.'' 
 
 It almost hurt my feelings that she so nonchalantly acknowledges my chronic tardiness. Right when I was about to start apologizing again the server brought out a bottle of wine and took our orders. 
 
 `` Shall we exchange our gifts?'' I asked with restraint. It was like the box was asking for me. 
 
 `` If you want to, I'll go first.'' 
 
 She pulled an envelope out of her purse and slid it across the table to me. 
 
 I peeled the lip back and saw two ticket vouchers. 
 
 `` Those are worth two-two way tickets to where ever you want to go; I could n't take your favorite part away from you.'' 
 
 She knew me so well. On our first anniversary we threw darts at a map of the state and went to all the places in a day. It's one of my happiest memories of all time. I pulled the box out of my jacket pocket. It was still in the bag I had gotten it from the shop in. 
 
 `` You're quite difficult to buy for, you know that?'' 
 
 She smirked and said `` you're the only person who has ever said that. I like everything. I'm not picky.'' 
 
 I decided not to roll my eyes and ruin the moment. I handed her the bag and she immediately lit up. She delicately pulled the box from the bag and took a deep breath. She did n't speak for quite some time as she admired the box. She traced the opal through the lattice work with her forefinger for a long while before she tried to open the box. The lid would n't budge. 
 
 `` Funny truth: I did n't think to open it at all'' 
 
 Emily shot up in her chair, she looked up at me like a doe in headlights and dropped the box onto the table all at once. 
 
 `` W..what?'' She mumbled, shaking off her daze. 
 
 `` I never thought to open the box'' 
 
 `` It's quite lovely'' she said as she traced the opal again. 
 
 `` I thought so to, it reminded me of you when I saw it'' 
 
 She began tugging at the lid once more, this time much more determined. It would n't budge. She struggled for the remainder of the time we waited for our food. When it was finally delivered She barely ate. From the time she pulled it out of the bag she had n't taken her eyes off of the box. 
 
 `` I can try to ope...'' 
 `` NO!'' 
 I was taken aback by her quick, stern response. She looked up for the first time all evening to catch my face of confusion 
 
 `` Sorry, it's just so beautiful, I do n't want it to get broken on accident or something.'' 
 
 We finished dinner without having said much to each other, I did n't know whether to ask her to come over tonight or not. She seemed to be in a strange mood. 
 
 `` Well, I have to work in the morning. I should really get going.'' She said, as if she knew what I was thinking. 
 
 `` Do you want me to drop you off?'' 
 
 `` Yes, that'd be great.'' 
 
 I pulled into her parking lot and she did n't immediately reach for her door handle. 
 
 `` Did you want me to come up for a bit?'' I asked. 
 
 She smiled and tilted her head too far to the right. 
 
 `` You're not getting the fucking box back, Alex.'' Then she got out of the car, slammed my door with her foot and stomped up the stairs to her apartment lobby door. 
 
 I sat there for a few minutes completely dumbfounded. What the hell is up with her? I could n't read her all night. I decided to give her her space. I would call her in the morning for us to talk about it. Maybe she was more angry about me being late than I thought. 
 
 I sent a `` good morning'' feeler text right at the time she should be leaving for work. I did not get a response. I sent a couple more cutesie emoji filled texts and still no reply. 
 
 I decided to call her on my lunch break but her phone went straight to voice mail every time. By the time I got off work I started getting worried about her. Even when she is mad at me she's not so childish as to make me think something's wrong. I went straight to her apartment after work because I had a bad feeling. 
 
 When I pulled into her lot her car was still the exact way it was parked the night before. I ran up the stairs and into the lobby. I should have taken the elevator but I was too impatient for it right now. I ran up 4 flights of stairs and started slamming my hand on Emily's door. 
 
 `` Em!'' `` EM!'' 
 I took the spare key from inside the birdhouse on her door wreath and opened the door. The entire apartment looked like it had been torn apart. Papers and cat food scattered the floor. Kitchen drawers were thrown about, their contents ejected across rooms. 
 
 `` Emily?'' I said as I slowly walked through each room. It was a small one bedroom place. Her bedroom was in the back, as I came to it the door was closed but I could hear faint piano music. The door was locked so I started to pound on it yelling for Emily. 
 
 `` Are you in there? Are you alright? EMILY?'' 
 I decided to kick the door in. 
 
 The sight I walked into was jarring to say the least. Emily had hung herself from the ceiling fan. 
 
 In the pocket of her cardigan was a note that simply said `` once it's opened it must be filled'' the little box appeared empty but the most beautiful piano lullaby was emitting itself from within. As I picked up the box I could hear a faint screaming `` Alex! Alex! Help me'' I peered into the box only to see nothing inside. 
 
 The box slammed shut and the music abruptly stopped. I pried and pried but the lid would n't budge. 
 
 `` Alex, it is done.'' The little old man from the little shop located at one-hundred-one and a half Loft street had walked into the room as if he'd been there all along. 
 
 `` Excuse me?'' I said not really understanding. 
 
 `` It is done. One does not wander into one-hundred-one and a half by mistake.'' And just like that he was gone. 
 
 And so was the box.
