Sarah had inherited an old house from her grandmother who had passed away last month. The house was located at the edge of town, surrounded by tall oak trees. Sarah had not visited this house since she was a child. She remembered spending summers here, playing in the garden and exploring the many rooms. Now she stood in front of the entrance, holding the rusty key in her hand. The door creaked loudly as she pushed it open. Dust floated in the air, illuminated by the afternoon sunlight. The furniture was covered with white sheets, like sleeping ghosts. Sarah walked through the hallway, her footsteps echoing on the wooden floor. She decided to start cleaning the house the next day. For now, she just wanted to look around and remember. She climbed the stairs to the second floor. There were four bedrooms and a bathroom up here. She entered her grandmother's bedroom last. This room smelled like lavender, just as she remembered. On the nightstand, there was a framed photograph of Sarah as a little girl. Sarah picked it up and smiled sadly. She missed her grandmother terribly. As she put the photograph back, she noticed something strange. The wallpaper behind the wardrobe looked different from the rest of the wall. Sarah tried to move the heavy wardrobe, but it was too difficult alone. She called her friend Mark, who lived nearby, and asked for help. Mark arrived within twenty minutes. 'What did you find?' he asked curiously as he entered the room. 'I am not sure yet,' Sarah replied. 'Help me move this wardrobe.' Together they pushed the wardrobe to the side. Behind it was a small door, barely visible and painted to match the wall. 'A hidden door!' Mark exclaimed in surprise. Sarah's heart was beating fast as she reached for the handle. The door was locked, but the key from the nightstand fit perfectly. What key from the nightstand, Sarah wondered for a moment. She had not noticed a key there before, but somehow she knew exactly where to find it. Behind the door was a narrow staircase leading upward. 'There must be a room in the attic that I never knew about,' Sarah said quietly. Mark used his phone flashlight to illuminate the dark stairway. They climbed carefully, the old wooden steps creaking under their weight. At the top of the stairs, they found another door. This one was unlocked and opened easily. Sarah gasped when she saw what was inside. The room was like a small museum, filled with paintings and antique objects. There were old books stacked on shelves that reached the ceiling. A beautiful wooden desk stood near a round window covered in dust. 'This is incredible,' Mark whispered, looking around in amazement. Sarah walked to the desk and found several old letters tied with a ribbon. The letters were addressed to her grandmother from someone named Eleanor. Sarah had never heard this name mentioned in her family before. She carefully opened one of the letters and began to read. The letter revealed that Eleanor was her grandmother's twin sister. Sarah's hands trembled as she continued reading. Eleanor had been an artist who traveled the world collecting beautiful things. She had passed away many years ago during an expedition in South America. Sarah could not understand why her family had never told her about Eleanor. The paintings on the walls were all signed with Eleanor's name. They showed beautiful landscapes from places Sarah had only seen in books. Mark found an old photograph album and called Sarah over. The photographs showed two identical girls playing together as children. 'That must be your grandmother and Eleanor,' Mark said softly. Sarah found a diary hidden in a drawer of the desk. The diary belonged to her grandmother and explained everything. Eleanor's death had been too painful for the family to discuss. Her grandmother had preserved this room as a memorial to her beloved sister. Sarah spent hours reading through the diary and letters. She learned about Eleanor's adventures, her art, and her deep bond with her twin. When it got dark outside, Mark suggested they should leave for the night. Sarah agreed but knew she would return tomorrow to learn more. That night, she called her mother and asked about Eleanor. There was a long silence before her mother finally spoke. 'Your grandmother made us promise never to mention her,' her mother explained. 'The pain of losing her twin was something she carried silently all her life.' Sarah understood now why the room had been kept secret for so long. It was a private place where her grandmother could remember and grieve. In the following weeks, Sarah carefully restored the forgotten room. She cleaned the paintings, organized the books, and read every letter. She felt closer to both her grandmother and Eleanor than ever before. The forgotten room was no longer a secret but a treasure to be shared.
English Story (B1)The Forgotten Room
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Sarah inherits her grandmother's old house and discovers a hidden room in the attic. Inside, she finds paintings, letters, and photographs revealing that her grandmother had a twin sister named Eleanor who died during an expedition. Through the diary and letters, Sarah learns about the deep bond between the twins and why her family kept Eleanor's existence a secret. She decides to restore the forgotten room and preserve the memory of both her grandmother and Eleanor.
Translations in English
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Who did Sarah inherit the old house from?
2
What did Sarah find behind the wardrobe in her grandmother's bedroom?
3
Who was Eleanor according to the letters Sarah found?
4
What did Sarah do with the forgotten room in the following weeks?
Vocabulary
40 words from this story
