Writing Short: "Music Box Mystery"

        This blog is for me that others may read. I spend at least an hour on each prompt then go back and edit it then post it. If I come back to it I come back to it but if I don't then oh well. I have so many stories in my head and get depressed if I don't write something so this is more therapy for me. Enjoy!

      Write about a character who returns home to find a strange music box on their doorstep. What is this character's first reaction as they notice the item? Do they recognize the music box at all? Or, worst of all, could it be that they recognize who made it? 

AND

Use the line to start: Sometimes we survive by forgetting. 

Sometimes we survive by forgetting. It's the mind's way of helping the body heal after a trauma. To help it recover quicker. Some secrets are best kept buried. So deep that they cease to even exist. But there are times when they seep through. Anything could trigger it: an object, a word, a sound, even a scent could bring it bubbling up from the depths of memory like an ugly creature resurfacing from beneath the mud. And you relive the horrible memory all over again.  

"Why don't you want a party?" Ray pulled into the gravel driveway, his knuckles white from gripping the wheel. 

"I told you, Ray," Marya concentrated more on the hem of her dress. There was a thread coming loose. Blue flowers pattern on a creamy white background. 

"That reason doesn't make sense," Ray complained.

"I'm just...," Marya grumbled, "not that into my birthday. I don't know what else to say."

Ray turned to Marya, "You could give me a better reason..."

Marya sighed, "Why is it such a big deal? Turning 30 isn't something women like to celebrate anyway."

"At least let's just have a small get together," Ray begged. Why did she have to fall in love with a man who loved celebrating things? Marya let go of the thread in exasperation, "Fine. One small dinner."

"House or restaurant?" Ray beamed.

"You pick," Marya couldn't help but smile a little. 

Marya and Ray got out of their ruby red ford car. 

"I can't believe I let you buy this new model in red," Marya made a side note. 

"I like red," Ray defended.

"It's showy," Marya countered. "A horse and buggy would have been less conspicuous."  

"Hey this is 1948, the 20th century and every red-blooded American owns a car."

Marya laughed, "Honestly..." Marya's smile faded quickly when she turned around to see what was sitting there on the front step, what was waiting for her...

"What's that?" Ray went past a dumbstruck Marya to the object on their door step. It was a golden cage with a small black glass bird inside. Ray inspected it to see that on one side was a key. He turned it then let go and the bird began turning and singing: "Bye Bye Blackbird". 

"Must be a birthday gift. But from who?" Ray searched for a card. There wasn't one. Marya snapped out of her stupor and took the music box away. Ray wondered, "You know who it's from?"

"No...," Marya lied. "I'll get dinner started." Marya rushed to the door, fumbling with the keys. Ray went to help but Marya quickly pulled away. The look in her eyes was that of a frightened animal ready to bite at the next person that dared to come near. Ray held his hands up in surrender and unlocked the door for her. She was always a bit closed off but this made Ray scratch his head. 

     Marya was alone in the dining room with the music box. Ray was asleep upstairs. Dinner was a little burnt but he didn't complain. He knew whenever Marya got rattled she needed some space to recollect herself. He was always there to greet her when she came out of her hole. 

      Tomorrow was her birthday. It was no coincidence that this thing came just before her 30th birthday. It's been 16 years and the wounds became scars... until she saw something she never thought she'd see again and it were as if something cut open those very scars and they were oozing blood once again. There was no card. None that could be seen. 

Marya felt around the object. Then with gentle force pulled the bottom off. Sure enough there was a piece of folded paper. She opened it. All the note read was: Fountain in park. Noon. 

The shock that was once a sheet of ice began to harden into armor. Marya felt numb all over. She messaged her wrists at the memory. She could still feel the coldness of the rusty manacle. Their weight. The clink of the chains as she walked and when he came down stairs and held her down then... Marya shut the memory out like shutting a Pandora's box. Marya shot up from her chair as she shut the Pandora's box. Her chair fell back making a thumping noise. Marya breathed in and out to try and get her heart back to a regular pace. Her eyes closed as the room was spinning. Her hands clenched. She swallowed to keep the bile down. She would do that before when he locked her in the cellar. She would close her eyes and imagine herself somewhere else. Even when she heard his heavy footsteps making the wooden stairs creak...

Marya felt a hand on her shoulder. She rounded on the Man and punched him hard in the nose. 

"Marya!" The voice was Ray not the Man's. Marya realized where she was with horror at what she had just done.

"Ray?" Marya rushed to her husband and helped him to his feet. His nose was bleeding a little. "I'm so sorry. So sorry." Marya was frantic.  

"It's okay...," Ray held his nose. "I should know better than to sneak up on a lady... It's not broken..."

"Why are you down here?" Marya helped Ray into a chair.

"I could ask you the same thing," Ray retorted with no real malice. 

"You startled me is all...," Marya excused. 

"Right..."

Marya went to the kitchen and put a wash cloth under the cold water. She came back and began dabbing Ray's nose. After getting most of the blood they sat in silence. Marya was focused on Ray's bloody nose but Ray looked into her eyes seeing that wild injured animal again. 

"You know I never asked you about your past," he mentioned. "Always thought it was rude."

Marya avoided his gaze, her eyes cast down. She held the cloth in her lap as if it were a life line. 

"I'm still not gonna ask," Ray whispered. He held out his hand for her. She stared at it. Then she touched it. Ray squeezed it gently which made the darkness inside her ebb greatly. Ray's touch was always warm. Like the sun. "You know I'm always here, right?"

"I know...," Marya placed her other hand over his. The night seemed less frightening now holding Ray's hand.