The secret in Ecrin

Chapter 1: The book with the secret inside

It was the same as always. My birthday cake had a baby picture of me as usual, the same black balloons like someone had died or something, and the same people invited; my mom, dad, little brother, and my nana. It wasn't really a very happy birthday since my whole family always looked depressed. Well at least there is one thing different every year, and that is my birthday candles. There were sixteen candles, one more since last year. I guess people should be happy when they become sixteen, but at my house, there wasn't much different today than it was yesterday. We didn't have much, and I got a knitted sweater just like every year, but in a different color. Most people in our town were quite wealthy, the only reason we lived in our bigger home was that it was left for us by our grandfather. We could sell it and buy something smaller, but my nana wouldn't let it go.

After I finished eating the piece of cake, which actually didn't taste much, I went up to my room. I jumped on the bed and sat there just thinking of why life was so unfair sometimes. Without noticing I fell asleep. I had a dream, a dream where I was up in the attic looking at old books my grandfather had left. I used to love reading books, and I remember every story my grandfather told me until he died two years ago. I stopped reading after that, there was no fun in reading any more. The next day I woke up staring at the same wall as I do every day. I miss reading, and suddenly I felt like I really wanted to go up to the attic and find the old books there. It was dark and dirty; the lights didn't work so I had to get a flashlight. There was a stack of books everywhere on the floor. As I looked through the books I noticed something familiar. I smiled with tears in my eyes. It was the book I wanted my grandfather to read for me over and over again until he basically told me that he threw it away so he didn't have to read it. But it was there, dirty in dust and hidden for years. I picked it up and blew the dust, as I started coughing and coughing and I felt like I was about to die. I opened the book slowly. ''Girl with the gift'' I whispered to myself. As I looked through the book something fell out of it. A letter. A letter with a seal on it and two words: ''Ecrin Town'' I stood there reading the words over and over again like I had heard that name before, but I just couldn't remember. I flipped the letter over and saw who it was addressed to. It was.....for me!

Ella White
Lighthouse street 14
45356 London avenue

I didn't know what to do or feel. The letter looked old, very old. It had dirt and was in a bad condition but was still sealed. I was about to open it right, but I heard my mom yelling my name from downstairs. I took the letter in the book and went fast by my room to put it under my pillow before anyone notices. My little secret, I thought to myself as I went down to my mom who stood there with her depressed face as always.

'' How many times do I have to tell you that breakfast is at 9 am every day!''
'' I'm sorry I lost track of time. It won't happen again, I promise''

I gave her the biggest smile there is. Usually, she ignores me, but to my surprise, she tried to smile back. My family wasn't always depressing, they were happy once like most people. Everything happened after my grandfather died, they couldn't bear it. He was the one who brought the smiles and laughter in this house. The only one that is a happy person in my home is my little brother. Well, most six-year-olds don't really understand death as we do. He thinks my grandfather is living with the queen because that's where my grandpa told him he was going before he died.