The Closet

This story I wrote is set sometime during the Great Depression. This is just my opinion, but I think this is the best story I have written. Let me know what ya think.


The house was dark and gloomy. It appeared as if it were haunted. The rugged image of this house that was falling apart seemed to worsen as time went by. The door slowly creaked open as a tall, rough-looking man walked through the doorway. His face was grim, with no expression. This was his home.
It used to be a beautiful mansion. He had a wonderful home with a wonderful family to come home to. He had two sons and one daughter whom he loved and adored. But hard times hit and everything descended into a downward spiral. His company went bankrupt. Debts began to pile up. He owed money to several people who were threatening his life if he did not pay them back. He was in danger. He feared for his family, so he sent them to live with his sister, but his wife refused to go. She insisted on staying there with him to help him fight this battle. And to make matters worse, she fell with pneumonia. And because she did not see a doctor due to their deficit, she died for lack of medical assistance.
His life had completely crashed and burned. No one could help him. It even seemed that God himself could not help him. He was alone, sad, and confused. And at this very moment, it seemed his life would end the same way. So he removed his coat, hung it on the rack, and walked up stairs to his room.
Everything in his room was in order. All of the little possessions he had that weren't repossessed by the tax collectors were in neat order. He kept everything in its spot. He ran a check on the room, making sure everything was neatly in its spot. After he was done, he stood and looked at everything in his room. It was in perfect order.
Satisfied, he walked over to his night stand and opened the top drawer. Inside was a small pistol. He removed it and walked over to the balcony. He then pointed the weapon toward his right temple. A tear strolled down his face as he slowly squeezed the trigger.
But then, something caught his eye. The wind had blown through the balcony into the room. And the door to his wife's closet opened. The walls were bright pink with blue stripes. On the racks hung her coats, dresses, and nightgowns. There were drawers filled with her collectibles and her diary.
But it was the corner of this rather large closet that caught his eye. On a desk sort of thing was a little notebook upon which she had written "Things That Make Me Happy." It was little things like the song of a bird, the bark of a puppy, or mere sunshine. And also on this desk there was a photo album with pictures of the children, family and him. He lightly chuckled as he saw pictures of him making funny faces and playing with the children. Then he walked over to the drawer and pulled out her diary. He opened it up and began to read. He flipped to the entry 3 years before this day, when everything was bright. It read,

April 12
I cannot believe how perfect today was. The sunrise was beautiful, the children had no school today, and my darling took off from work to be home with us. We went to the park, had a picnic, and played for almost 2 hours. I wish everyday were like the one I had today.

He then flipped a few more pages to about week later, which was when all of the problems began to stream in, one by one.

April 20
Something seems to be wrong. It's been raing buckets and there is no sunshine. And things at the company are not going so well. My husband got a phone call and his voice wasn't as cheery as it usually is when he answered the phone. He kept saying over and over, "I need more time. Just give me 30 more days. I'll have it by then." And when I confronted him later, he smiled, kissed me on the forehead, and said nothing was wrong. But I know he is lying. Something is not right.

He slowly began to weep as he flipped through the pages. The next entry he read was 2 weeks later. He tried to control his emotions as he read this,

May 7
I found out what he's been hiding. The company has gone bankrupt. He owes some people money. And not just any ordinary people. CEOs of major companies here in the city. And a few of them are threatening to kill him. Oh, how I fear for him! He's quit praying, he's not eating, and he's been lashing out at everything. The children have been sent to his sister's, but I'm staying to help him. He's going to need my support.

Tears flooded down his face as he read through her diary. She knew she was ill, but stayed strong so he wouldn't be discouraged. He then went to the last page written on. Her mood was very a very unusual sort of calm as she wrote this,

May 20
I can feel it. It's going to happen very soon. I think it is my time. I have suffered long enough, and I am about to receive my eternal reward. I am grief-stricken though for my darling. He is so grim and stiff. He has been trying so hard to find my help that he is on the verge of having a breakdown. I just pray that, after I die, he doesn't hurt himself. Oh please God, don't let him be alone! Don't let him hurt himself! Just...

He couldn't take it anymore. He dropped the book and began to sob. His body ached all over from crying so hard. He couldn't see how his wife could handle all this pressure and still remain composed.
He then stood up, pulled himself together, and walked over to the balcony. He then bowed his head and closed his eyes. It had been months since he did this. He said, "God.....if You're up there.....I'm sorry for everything. I never trusted You and that's why everything got out of hand. I'm giving everything I have to You. It's in Your hands."
He then looked up to the sky. He was shocked at what he saw. For the first time in 3 years, the rains stopped, and sun shined onto the balcony. And things were looking a lot brighter.