Emma moved into her new apartment on a cold November day. The building was old but beautiful, with tall windows and wooden floors. While cleaning the bedroom closet, she found something unusual. Behind an old shelf, there was a yellow envelope. The paper was thin and fragile from age. Emma opened the envelope carefully. Inside was a handwritten letter dated March 15, 1962. 'My dearest Helen,' the letter began. 'I am writing to tell you something important.' 'I have loved you since the day we met at the bookshop.' 'But I was too shy to speak to you.' 'I hope this letter finds you well. With all my love, Robert.' Emma read the letter three times. She wondered if Helen ever received a copy of this letter. Or was this the only version, hidden and never sent? Emma decided to investigate. She knocked on her neighbor's door the next morning. An elderly woman with silver hair opened the door. 'Hello, I am Emma. I just moved in next door.' 'Welcome to the building,' the woman said warmly. 'My name is Margaret. I have lived here for forty years.' Emma showed Margaret the old letter. Margaret's eyes grew wide as she read it. 'Oh my goodness,' she whispered. 'I know who wrote this letter.' 'Robert Miller lived in your apartment many years ago.' 'He was a quiet man who worked at the library.' 'And Helen?' Emma asked. Margaret smiled gently. 'Helen was my mother. She owned the bookshop on Oak Street.' Emma was amazed by the coincidence. 'Did your mother ever know about Robert's feelings?' 'No, she never knew,' Margaret said sadly. 'Robert was very shy. He visited the bookshop every week.' 'But he always pretended to look for books.' 'He never told her how he felt.' Emma felt sorry for Robert. He wrote a beautiful letter but never sent it. 'What happened to Robert?' she asked. 'He moved away in 1965,' Margaret replied. 'Nobody knows where he went.' Emma thought for a moment. 'Would you like to keep this letter?' she offered. 'It was meant for your mother, after all.' Margaret's eyes filled with tears. 'Thank you, Emma. This means so much to me.' 'My mother passed away last year.' 'She always wondered why Robert stopped coming to the bookshop.' 'Now I understand. He was too afraid to speak.' From that day, Emma and Margaret became good friends. They often had tea together in Margaret's apartment. Margaret shared stories about the building and the old neighborhood. Emma loved hearing about the past. One evening, Margaret showed Emma an old photograph. In the picture, a young woman stood in front of a bookshop. 'That is my mother Helen,' Margaret said proudly. Emma smiled at the photograph. She was glad she found the mystery letter. It brought two strangers together and created a new friendship. Sometimes the past has a way of connecting us to the present.
English Story (A2)The Mystery Letter
This A2 English story is designed for elementary learners. Click any word for instant translation and build your vocabulary as you read.
aboutStory
Emma finds a mysterious old letter hidden in her new apartment. As she investigates, she discovers a touching secret about the building's past and makes a connection with a neighbor she never expected.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Where did Emma find the mysterious letter?
2
Who was Helen?
3
Why did Robert never send the letter?
4
