Behind Freedom Door

I had done it and chosen the final door. I had chosen freedom. The room felt anticlimactic. One light buzzed in the center of the room illuminating a small table and chair. A white rectangle on the table.

Not seeing anything else I approached the table metal folding table. The white rectangle cleared into an envelope with nothing written on it. I wondered if no one had been assigned to this door to tell me what happened next since no one ever chose Freedom.

Thinking maybe the envelope provided the instructions, I picked it up and took out a folded paper. The paper had a yellowed color as if it had been around a while, yet not quite brittle. I could see writing, handwriting. No one ever wrote by hand anymore. Everyone used computers and devices. Looking closely, I began reading.

Confused, I carefully read the letter again. Another choice? Where? How? Curiously, I look around the room, but don’t see anything until I look at the floor. One spot has a small ring on it, almost like a pull.

Footsteps grow closer. I have to decide and I don’t even know what is the truth. Frozen, I try to decide, then realize the one thing I want most. Truth.

Diving for the floor I grab the ring and pull. Surprisingly it comes up easily. I see a ladder descending into darkness. Quickly, easing myself down the ladder I reach up and close the door just before the door opens.

Gripping the top rung, I listen to the footsteps stomp around the room. Another door opens and I hear murmurs from people, but I can’t make out what they are saying. Finally the footsteps fade and silence echoes.

Maybe I should go back up, but before I try to push open the door, I look down. I can see the ground, so light shines from somewhere. I shrug, I chose this. Now I need to see it through. Carefully, I begin the descend the ladder, headed to the light.