“A Secret Untold,” by Fenglin Shan: December 2024 1st Place

At the edge of the forest, secrets can last for centuries. Sometimes, at the right place and time, one might just reveal itself to you. 

A cheerful buzz of sound swirled inside the house. Aunts strung lights on the tree and my cousins set up clusters of mistletoe under the doorway, preparing to ambush whoever set foot on the threshold. Unfortunately, I had the yearly task of scavenging for decorations in the attic. 

I grumbled to myself as I worked, putting aside things that seemed useful. While I was hard at work, I noticed something peculiar. A scrap of paper sticking out from under a floorboard. Straining, I pulled it up and studied the contents. Laced with cobwebs and dust bunnies, a photo of a girl lay on top of an embroidered journal.

“Weird. I don’t remember seeing this girl on the family tree, but…she looks just like Aunt Gloria! Could she be an ancestor?” 

As I was talking to myself, a strange tapping sound emanated from the window. Curious, I stepped forward to investigate. On the frosted windowpane was the reflection of the girl in the photograph I found. She stared out at me, eyes pools of sadness. 

I looked around. There was no one else in the room. I stepped back, trying to escape her ghostly presence. The chatter downstairs continued, but the room chilled. I was trapped! I froze, my heart racing. It was clear that she wasn’t a trick of light. The reflection still faced me, desperately gesturing towards the journal. She didn’t move, and I stopped.

“You want me to read it…?” The girl nodded frantically.

I picked it up and began to read. Today Judy disappeared. There was a horrible blizzard, and we searched and searched, but couldn’t find a trace of her. Mama says she’ll be alright, but I sense something is terribly wrong. I found her doll by the door. Judy would never leave it! It’s her most treasured possession!

Finally, I understood. “That doll…it was yours wasn’t it?” 

Judy nodded mournfully, her silhouette fading. I took out the doll from the notebook and released it into the wind, watching as it fluttered into the night sky.