I FOUND A TINY GOLD KEY HIDDEN INSIDE HIS JACKET POCKET
My fingers brushed against something hard and cold tucked deep inside the worn lining when I went to hang it up. I pulled my hand back, a jolt of confusion running through me before I reached in again, feeling the smooth, metallic object. It wasn’t loose change or a button; this felt deliberate, hidden away from sight.
My heart started a slow, heavy drumbeat as I pulled it out into the kitchen light. It was a small, ornate key, unlike anything I’d ever seen him use. My hand trembled slightly, the cold metal now feeling strangely hot against my palm. I turned it over, staring at the intricate design.
“What *is* this?” I whispered aloud, though I was alone. A sudden, sickening wave of certainty washed over me, chilling me despite the kitchen’s warmth. This key unlocked something secret. Something he didn’t want me to know about.
The garage door started opening. But I hadn’t told anyone I was here.
👇 *Full story continued in the comments…*The rumble of the garage door was loud now, filling the quiet kitchen. My breath hitched. I snatched the key, stuffing it deep into the pocket of my jeans just as the door connecting the garage to the kitchen creaked open.
“Hey,” he said, stepping inside. His eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. “Didn’t expect you here. The car was gone.”
I forced a smile that felt brittle. “Just came to drop something off. Ran into the garage door opener button by accident, I guess. Left my keys in the car.” It was a clumsy lie, but the only one that came to mind. My fingers were tight around the tiny key in my pocket, its sharp edges pressing into my skin.
He looked tired, lines etched around his eyes. “Right. Well, glad you’re here. Long day.” He walked past me towards the fridge, oblivious, pulling out a water bottle.
My heart was still hammering, but I tried to keep my voice steady. “Yeah? Rough one?” I watched him, searching his face for any sign – guilt, secrecy, anything. But he just seemed… normal. Tired, thirsty.
“You could say that,” he mumbled, taking a long drink. He leaned against the counter, finally looking at me properly. “You seem a bit jumpy. Everything okay?”
Panic flared. Had he seen? Did he suspect? I straightened my shoulders. “Just startled me, that’s all. Thought I was alone.” I edged towards the door, needing to get away, to think, to look at the key again without his presence filling the room. “Look, I should probably go. Got a few more things to run.”
He pushed off the counter, a small frown forming. “Already? Stay for a bit. I just got home.”
“Can’t, sorry. Really gotta run.” I gave him another strained smile, backing away. Every instinct screamed at me to escape, to protect the secret I had found. I reached the door, my hand on the knob. “See you later?”
He looked hesitant, but nodded slowly. “Okay. Drive safe.”
I slipped out the door, pulling it shut quickly behind me, the mundane sound echoing the vast distance that had suddenly opened up between us. Outside, the cool evening air did little to calm the frantic beating of my heart. My hand went straight back into my pocket, clutching the tiny gold key. It felt heavier now, a burden of suspicion and unspoken questions. I walked towards my car, the key’s weight a constant reminder that the man I thought I knew held secrets, and I had just found the key to one of them. The quiet hum of the street seemed deafening as I got into my car, the key still hidden in my pocket, a silent promise of unsettling truths yet to be uncovered.