Please help a newbie

Hi everyone,

I thought I'd ask for help in this community. Just a little bit of background first: I recently started playing Returnal again after giving up without really trying that much roughly 2 years ago. New game, new save. I have stopped caring if I die or not - which is the right way to go about this game, for me at least - and 5 hrs in I made it to a big reddish door for which I need a key apparently. It is in an area with three or four tall one-eyed tree-looking creatures. Is that where the first boss is?

But that's not really my question. My question is where the hell is the melee weapon? I've spent roughly one hour and a half going back and forth in the areas I've cleared going through every single door and I cannot for the life of me find it. Any tips? I am sure I am missing something here but I swear I cannot find the damn melee weapon anywhere.

I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

ps. As a 48 year old player, this is probably the most fun I've had in a videogame since Parasite Eve II on PS1 and Silent Hill 2. This game is great and the graphics have me in awe.

EDIT: I wanted to thank you all. I followed your tips and managed to find the melee weapon. Then I made my way to the first boss, got very very close to killing him but got myself killed on my first attempt. Oh, well. I'll try again tomorrow. Thanks again.