The thin, brass garage key you tuck in the back of your kitchen junk drawer turns the tumbler on your detached side-hinged garage door without sticking. You haven’t used it in six months, ever since you switched to using the keypad mounted next to the garage door frame for daily access. You stashed it there …

Your unmarked brass front entry key sits next to a roll of matte white painter’s tape on your kitchen table. You grabbed it last week when you picked up the spare set from your landlord, and you’ve already fumbled through three wrong locks trying to get into your back patio after grocery runs. The blank …

The scuffed brass house key on your keyring turned your third-floor neighbor’s front door knob three nights ago when you fumbled to unlock your own after a late shift. You froze mid-twist when you heard a TV playing inside that didn’t sound like your own, pulled the key out fast, and ducked into your own …

Your three small silver flat keys and single brass front door key all sit jumbled on a split plastic key ring you dug out of your junk drawer 10 minutes ago. You’ve been meaning to consolidate these for three weeks, ever since you fumbled through three separate key rings in the rain to get your …

The dented brass house key on your overcrowded key ring has not slid into a lock for 11 weeks. Your ring is heavy enough to leave a faint indent on the inside of your jeans pocket when you carry it all day, and you’ve wondered more than once if you should yank this unused key …