Emil tossed and turned, sleepless with his mentor''s words still lingering in his mind. None of it matters if we are already dead. What could it possibly mean?


    The copper key was on Emil''s bedside table. Each time he rolled over and opened his eyes for even a second, it was there; not knowing its purpose prodded at his ego constantly. Perhaps it had no purpose at all, or if it did, it was insignificant and was moreso intended to taunt Emil as a completely unknown factor in his life.


    Professor Silbler had always been an eloquent genius, and a true paragon of scholarship. Emil aspired to be like him in every way. Now, in a single night, his entire view of the man had been flipped upside-down. He kept asking himself, why was the professor behaving in such a way? Why was he asking questions about faith, about God?


    The longer Emil was kept awake by his tormenting, persistant doubts, the less faith he seemed to have in Gustav Silber''s very sanity. Emil knew there was no longer any use in trying to sleep when the sun reached its midday peak—it was time to take action.


    Emil''s first plan was to see if Gustav''s wife, Paula, or daughter, Camilla, knew anything about his condition. From appearances alone, it was possible the husband and father had not come home to eat or bathe in days. Emil wondered, could this be psychosis? Or was it dementia? The longer Emil thought about it—rationally, in his mind—the more outrageous it seemed to him that Gustav knew anything about the universe''s origin point, or if such a thing could even possibly exist.


    Emil took the copper key and put it into a small envelope labeled "schlüssel". He put the envelope in his coat pocket and left his home to pay the Silber family a personal visit.


    The Silber residence was an impressive estate, a two-story house built with brick and covered by gray shingles. Behind it was a scenic forest where native creatures would occasionally manifest without fear. Gustav could have retired many years ago to live out the golden years of his life in this beautiful place. Emil never took the time to wonder the true reason why the elderly professor had not done so.


    He took a deep breath as he stood at the front door. The polished iron door knocker which hung in front of him was forged in the likeness of an angel. Emil stared at it for a moment and noted that he had not consciously observed this ornament on the home''s door before, though he had visited many times to attend the family''s holiday parties. Gustav''s wife of forty-two years, Paula Silber, answered the door by first cracking it open and peeking out.


    Her voice resonated through the crack, "Oh, young Emil. Good day."


    She stepped out from the foyer of her home onto the front porch to greet him. Emil took her hand, kissed it, and nodded to her. She cracked a smile, but he could see the same stress in her eyes which she likely saw in his.


    "Good day to you as well, Frau Silber. It is always a pleasure to see you. I was concerned I may have come at an inconvenient time. Is Herr Silber home?"


    Paula sighed and shook her head. She removed her glasses and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. After a brief silence, she put her glasses on and cleared her throat as she gravitated closer to Emil.


    "Emil, please tell me. Why is he not here? Surely you must know."


    "I was at the observatory yesterday, but I only had a chance to speak to him last night. He did not seem well. I am concerned."Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    "Tell me, what did he say to you?"


    Emil hesitated. "He has been very busy. We discussed work."


    Paula was unsatisfied with the vague answer Emil had provided. The young man was staring at the ground, and she knew he was uncomfortable, but she would not relent. She leaned forward and stared at Emil''s face. He was avoiding eye contact, and instinctively Paula knew he was keeping a secret from her.


    "Emil, please. You must know how much I trust you. Can you please trust me?" Paula pleaded, "My husband has not been home since last weekend. Before he left, he did mention he would be spending a few days at the observatory to focus on work, but this is unlike him. It has been five days. Our daughter asks me why he has been away for so long, and there is nothing I can tell her. You know Camilla well, she considers you a friend. She would undoubtedly do whatever she could for you if you were in my position."


    He wanted to tell her more. He wanted to ask if a copper key was significant to her in any way. He could have said many things, and asked many more, but he could not. Gustav told him he must not. Somehow, Emil had to respect his mentor''s wishes while extracting as much information from Paula as possible.


    "I am sorry, Frau Silber. The professor is very caught up in his work. I know you are worried about your husband. I too believe he would probably feel better if he came home and got some rest. I will speak to him on your behalf."


    Paula clenched her teeth, unwilling to believe Emil could be so ignorant of the current situation. She could only hold back the tears in her crystal blue eyes as she nodded and gradually stepped back through the open doorway into her home''s foyer.


    Before bidding her farewell, Emil glanced up and finally made eye contact with the troubled housewife who said to him, "Gustav would be cross with me if I were to come to the observatory. It is not my place to reprimand him having a strong work ethic, but he has always been such a devoted husband. If there is anything wrong, I want to help."


    "I understand," Emil said. "I will make sure he is aware of this."


    "Thank you, Emil. Have a blessed day."


    "You as well, Frau Silber."


    As Paula shut the door behind her, Emil felt his stomach turn.


    Emil stepped forward and held his hand out to her. "Wait. Frau Silber!"


    She paused and gave Emil a surprised look which conveyed a reluctant hope. Emil reached into his coat pocket, and held out the envelope labeled "schlüssel". She took it from him and peered inside.


    "This?" she asked.


    "Does it mean anything to you, Frau Silber?"


    "This is the key to our first home. All the way in Berlin, that was, before Camilla was born. Before you were born, I''m sure."


    "Do you know why your husband might give me such a thing?"


    Paula removed the key from the envelope and studied it. "Certainly not. That place was demolished. There is some nostalgic value to this item—but beyond that, it is useless."


    She put the key back into the envelope and offered it to Emil. Emil shook his head. He was disappointed, but not surprised.


    "Keep it," he told her. "You''ll find some value in it, I''m sure. Nostalgic, yes?"


    Paula hugged Emil. It was sudden, without warning. He breathed a sigh of relief and placed his hand on her back, comforting her.


    "Thank you, young man. I hope your future is bright."


    Emil smiled and nodded to her. "Frau Silber, I shall ensure that the future is bright for all of us! Please tell Camilla I said hello. I know she must be busy with her chores, but I do plan to see her again soon."


    Paula nodded back and the two waved goodbye. When Paula closed the door behind her, Emil spent a moment lingering on the porch to reflect on the situation.


    Paula and Camilla Silber were always very kind to Emil when Gustav would invite him to their home. The family conflict that had arisen from this situation left Emil with a pressing decision to make. He was wondering if it were possible that he would have to forcefully remove the professor from their workplace to bring the crazy old man back home to his concerned family.


    Emil did not remember the last time he prayed before this. He bowed his head and clasped his hands, and he asked God what needed to be done. He didn''t expect an answer.


    Turning his back to the Silber house and stepping off the porch, a dark cloud obscured the sunlight and a powerful gust of wind rustled the trees behind Emil. Knowing now what he had to do, Emil began his travel back to the observatory with a newfound righteous ambition.