The clock struck midnight. I heard the many grandfather clocks ring over and over. Twelve times they rang signifying the day had come to a close and we were into tomorrow. But for some reason I could just not sleep. I kept thinking of that locked room that I had access to now. I didn’t know why I had such a fixation on it. I just knew it was all I could think about. I tried to focus on so many different things but nothing could hold my focus. I wanted to know what that room was for. Why did it have the feeling it did when I was in it?

I must know. So I gathered my courage and snuck out of my room in the cover of darkness. I walked up the stairs as quietly as I could. Creeping along the wall in the cover of darkness.

I slowly crept past my mother and fathers room and then reached the door finally. I sighed as I opened the door. It felt like a portal into a different world. The handle felt like it could just keep turning forever. I kept turning and turning the handle until it had gone around 4 revolutions. Then suddenly it clicked. I kept turning and the clicking noise got louder. Until it stopped randomly. I decided that was enough playing with a loose door handle and now I should enter the room. But as soon as I opened the door I couldn’t see the room anymore.

I stepped through the threshold and walked toward where the center of the room would have been. The walls started to fade away and all I could see was the motif below me. Suddenly my eyes grew heavy. I pushed to try and walk further and made it to the middle of the motif. Then in an instant I collapsed feeling all of my energy drain from my body. I laid on the dust covered floor as my eyelids started to shut. Then I fell into a deep sleep.

I awoke in daze staring at a beautiful dalliance of light falling in a perfect ray in front of me. No way. I thought as I stared in wonder of the beautiful tendril of pure sunlight in front of me. When was the last time I had seen true sunlight? It had to have been years honestly I can’t even remember a time anymore when there was sun. I then looked up above me. I appeared to be in the same room as I had passed out. Yet the motif was completely changed: deep vibrant blues, dark missy greens, and shimmering violets were in place of the once warmer colors. 

I looked around and the room seemed to not have a single spec of dust in it. This room was far different from the one I had fallen asleep in. This room was immaculate even. It was like nothing I had ever seen before in my life. It was like I had been transported to a completely new world. I looked up again and saw a different sight. Gone were the gray dreary clouds now the sky was filled with sun. 

The warm rays shone down from above and I decided that I should probably go figure out if my parents had known about this. I rushed out of the room making sure that the door was left slightly cracked open so I could return when I wanted to. Then I rushed down the stairs to my room to get dressed.

I got dressed and walked back into the kitchen and noticed that all the dishes had been cleaned. Everything was pristine and looked to be so well organized. This was a far cry from what it usually was so I guess Susette had just worked overtime and cleaned it all up. It was truly miraculous how clean it appeared to be. I hadn’t noticed it before when I rushed to my room but the house seemed very different. I walked back into my room and found that it no longer had the water stains or yellowing of the walls. There was a floral pattern that made the room feel much bigger and brighter than it was. 

I walked through the now well lit kitchen and passed by the shining appliances. I walked into the dining room and immediately noticed there was a new table runner on the dining table and it had many more chairs than just the 3 it usually had. Man, what is happening around here? I go to bed one day and wake up with everything completely changed? I thought to myself.

Now that I think about it, I haven't seen my mother or father since last night. I should go look for them. I had to keep the rules from etiquette class in my head so I did not upset either of them. A lady should not raise her voice or speak comfortably to authority figures. 

I silently walked around the house noticing the changes. The molding and wood fixtures all seemed to change. They all had more carefree designs. Even the taxidermied animal statues had disappeared. In their place were many different marble pillars with busts of ancient philosophers. That was definitely strange. I did not picture them to be people who were obsessed with philosophers. 

Then again this was too much to change in just one night. Something was absolutely not right. There was something very wrong. I continued walking the halls until I came upon my father as he was standing admiring a marble bust of a woman. He was wearing a white leisure suit which was uncommon for him. He was far too stuffy to be walking around without a vest on.

“Excuse me… Sir? What are you looking at?” I asked him curious.

“Who was that?” He says spinning around and noticing it was me.

“Why, if it wasn’t my little Cynthia. Why are we talking so politely? You know you don’t have to be formal around me. You are my darling daughter. Aren’t you?” He said in a tone I had never heard him have before.

“I’m sorry sir. I just thought I was supposed to act like a proper lady at all times.” I replied sheepishly.

“That’s strange you never used to talk like this. Have you gotten enough sleep? You really don’t need to keep calling me sir. Also you are one of the most proper ladies I have ever met. Whether you speak politely or talk informally. You could never do any wrong. Don’t worry.” He replied in a happier tone than before.

“Why don’t you go find your mother. She was tending to her prized rose bushes last I checked. I’m sure she would also enjoy seeing her spitting image first thing in the morning.” He said while walking towards his study.