The Mystery Box

The box sat there looking inconsequential. She had sat there, watching the box come ever closer. The drone had seemed completely locked onto her, with no veers or shifts in its path before dropping the box in front of her.

The box sat there looking both large and small at the same time. Her mind started, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions moving through it at amazing speed as the drone lifted off and disappeared into the distance.

The box sat there looking very sturdy for something that was labelled 'Fragile'. She ordered her mind to stop. 1 step at a time she reminded herself. Look for who was the intended recipient. She saw her name printed in bold letters, but no address underneath.

The box sat there completely covered in brown paper and not giving anything away. She stared at the name..... How could there be no address, although she admitted to herself this place may well not have a proper address. How did the sender know where to send it? Who sent it?

The box sat there completely unaffected by the girl or her thoughts. Who must be the key to the puzzle except no one knew she was here. This tiny piece of green garden with a rubbish-free stream running through it sat on the edge of the city, outside the areas crammed with people. Outside the noise and the pressure. Just enough outside that even the powerful rarely came.

The box sat exactly where the drone had dropped it. She pondered that thought for a moment; why would a drone be outside the city limits? Why was she outside them? It had been such a spur-of-the-moment decision, her last pickup had been interrupted by the husband suddenly appearing, and it had taken a lot of effort to ensure he didn't stop them. In great pain and weary to the soul she had suddenly veered off the path back to the centre, travelling without thinking until ending up here.

The box sat there waiting for her to process her thoughts. Could someone have followed her here? Admittedly she hadn't been paying much attention to her surroundings at the time but who would follow her out here and then disappear back to the city to send the box out?

The box sat there, something clean and simple in this space far removed from the dirt and grime of the city. She looked at her hand, covered in dirt and blood even though she'd been wearing gloves all day. Was there someone who knew how hard it was now that the principles of right and wrong weren't enough?

The box sat there. She wondered how again, who had sent this? Friend or foe? Would opening the box give her joy or pain? How did they know where to find her? She didn't recognise the handwriting.....

The box was medium weight and sturdy as she lifted it slowly off the ground. It didn't make any noises as she turned it over and around exploring all the sides for extra clues. The note was small, so tiny that she almost missed it as the base of the box went past her eyes. “I hope it helps.” was all it said. Helps? Aside from the priests, she was quite certain help was out of reach for herself. Who would help her? Who had the ability to find her here?

The box glimmered darkly in the moonlight as she carefully removed the brown paper. She held it gently in her hands as she stood up. For the first time that evening, a slight breeze came through brushing her cheeks with cool night air. She swayed slightly feeling relief flow through her, somebody wanted to help......

The box had a hinged lid that clipped shut at the front with a magnet. She paused with her fingers flicking the lip uncertain whether or not to open it completely. Just the idea that there was someone out there as a friend was a gift for her, maybe she should just enjoy that feeling for a while.

The box sat neatly in the grass beside the stream. She had to be better to open it she decided. Pulling back her hood, casting the gloves aside and pulling up her sleeves so she could wash in the stream. The water was icy as she plunged her hands in again and again but she only felt the release of being free, the dirt from the city taking the dirt from her life as it disappeared into the dark water. Standing up again now she felt worthy of help, of a friend.....

The box nestled into her arm, being held secure as she opened it up. Together they glowed from the light within......

The contents were warm, and easy on her eyes, yet shifting back and forth between different shapes. As she reached a finger into the box to feel its texture, she felt the warmth move into her, through her. Images of people and places flooded her mind, some she knew from memory, others were brand new. She heard a voice speaking as if from a great distance but as gentle as a whisper next to her ear. “This is who you truly are. This is what you can do.” At last, she understood the slight differences between her and every opponent she had faced. Now she knew who she was and why. At last she was free. At last she could move on.