The Girl Who Walked Through Worlds Part 1: A Bedtime Story

Hello, beloveds.

This is a short story I wrote about a grieving young girl named Mia, who, after losing her parents, receives a mysterious letter sealed with a silver crescent moon. It invites her to Willowmere Mansion, sent by a stranger named Miss Elsbeth Dalloway. Encouraged by her aunt, Mia accepts, and an adventure begins.

This is part one of a three-part series.

Music is generously provided by Nature's Eye.

Thank you for listening, and I hope you sleep well dear ones.

Transcript

Hello dear ones and welcome to today's bedtime story,

The girl who walked through worlds as always just taking a few moments to arrive here in the space knowing that there's nowhere you need to be and there is nothing that you need to do this time is for you to rest and relax and when you are ready dear ones we will begin the rain had never been so relentless or so loud raindrops hit the windowsill with an urgent rhythmic tapping like tiny fingers trying to get in Maya sat at the edge of her bed knees hugged to her chest staring at the letter that had arrived that morning it had no return address only a beautiful silver seal in the shape of a crescent moon her fingers trembled as she unfolded the crisp parchment the words written in elegant script dear Maya you are invited to stay with me at willow mere mansion there is much to be discovered and much to learn come with an open heart yours miss Elsbeth Galloway Maya blinked she had never heard of miss Elsbeth Galloway the letter was strange almost too strange to be real but the invitation felt somehow important her parents had been gone for months now and Maya's world had become quieter with each passing day this letter was the first real thing to happen since the world as she knew it had disappeared she hesitated only a moment before walking to the kitchen where her aunt was humming softly making tea why don't you go her aunt said without looking up from the kettle seems like a bit of magic in your life dear Maya's heart skipped magic oh I didn't mean it in the literal way aunt Clara said with a chuckle but a new start might be just what you need you never know what you might find at the mansion Maya nodded though she was certain aunt Clara had no idea how right she was the journey to Willamere mansion was longer than Maya had imagined the train rattled over ancient tracks and the landscape outside was nothing like the flapped gray fields she was used to instead the world seemed to bend and twist with wild almost unnatural colors the sky a deep impossible shade of purple the trees bending in ways that felt more like suggestions than actual forms when the train finally screeched to a halt Maya was left staring at the mansion in awe Willamere mansion was everything the letter had promised and more its towers rose high into the clouds casting long sharp shadows across the yard vines crept along the walls as if the house was slowly being swallowed by the earth itself at the front door stood a figure in a long flowing coat their back turned as they're waiting for Maya to come closer Miss Elsbeth Maya asked hesitantly stepping forward the woman turned and Maya was taken aback she wasn't what Maya had expected this witch of a woman was much more eccentric than the letters had let on Miss Elsbeth Dalloway had wild silver hair that fell around her shoulders in a cascade of curls and she wore a dress of deep green velvet that shimmered in the fading light her eyes sparkled with the kind of mischief that only someone truly magical could possess you've arrived just in time Miss Elsbeth said her voice smooth and warm as if they were old friends there's so much to show you my dear so much magic waiting for you Maya felt her heart beat faster something inside her stirred curiosity wonder and maybe even just the smallest hint of excitement shall we begin Miss Elsbeth asked offering her arm like an invitation to a grand adventure Maya hesitated for only a moment before taking her hand Miss Elsbeth led Maya through the grand front doors of Willamere Mansion and the first thing that struck Maya was the smell a mixture of old books pine and something sweet like honeyed flowers the hallway stretched ahead lined with portraits of people and creatures Maya had never seen before there were doors everywhere each one different from the next some made of glass some a thick wood and others shimmering like they were woven from light itself where are we going Maya asked she had never felt so small so out of place in a house that felt both ancient and alive Miss Elsbeth didn't answer immediately instead she gave Maya a mysterious smile and opened a door that looked like it led into nothing at all beyond it was not a room but an entire forest bathed in soft golden light trees with thick trunks stretched high into the air their leaves glowing with an inner light there were animals too some of them seemed to float their feet never quite touching the ground this is the world I wanted to show you Miss Elsbeth said a place where bravery is born Maya stepped into the forest her shoes sinking into the soft moss covered earth the air felt different here lighter somehow but also full of whispers as if the forest itself was alive and speaking are we in a dream?

Maya asked her voice filled with awe Miss Elsbeth shook her head her eyes sparkling not a dream no a world just one of many and this world Maya is where your trial begins Maya's heart skipped trial?

Miss Elsbeth nodded in each world you will face a challenge a trial of courage the forest is full of creatures who have overcome hardship just like you but they didn't do it alone they had to lean into their fears just like you will Maya felt a knot form in her stomach she wasn't sure if she was ready for anything let alone a trial but something deep inside her whispered that this was important this was a chance to discover something about herself something she hadn't even known she was missing stay close Miss Elsbeth said leading the way through the glowing trees the forest will show you what you need to see they walked for what felt like hours though time seemed to behave differently in this strange place eventually they arrived at a small clearing and there spanning a rushing river of silver water was a bridge an old crumbling thing made of stone and wood its beams creaked and groaned in the breeze and the edges seemed to dissolve into the shadows themselves Maya stopped short this is the trial Miss Elsbeth nodded cross it Maya and you will learn what bravery truly means Maya took a step forward but something in the air shifted the shadows beneath the bridge began to writhe and faces appeared in the darkness faces that seemed to whisper her name each one familiar and yet twisted like a reflection in a broken mirror her pulse quickened I don't know if I can this is your trial Maya Miss Elsbeth said the shadows represent your fears and you will have to face them if you wish to cross Maya took a deep breath she had faced many fears already in her young life losing her parents and the loneliness that followed but this this was different these shadows weren't just memories they were things she hadn't even fully understood yet she stepped forward again this time with more resolve the faces in the shadows grew louder more insistent but Maya kept her gaze fixed ahead every step was harder than the last as if the bridge itself was testing her her heart pounded in her chest but with each step she felt something shift inside her a quiet strength growing finally she reached the center of the bridge where the shadows seemed to swirl around her in a whirlwind of whispers the darkness pressed in close but Maya didn't stop instead she closed her eyes and reached deep within herself finding that tiny spark of bravery she hadn't known was there and then just as suddenly as they had come the shadows began to dissolve fading into nothingness Maya opened her eyes and looked around the bridge was solid now no longer crumbling and the shadows gone she had done it she had faced her fears and in doing so she had crossed the bridge Miss Elsbeth appeared beside her smiling well done Maya you have passed your first trial Maya looked down at her hands still trembling slightly but something was different she felt stronger now as if she had unlocked a part of herself she didn't even know was there you were right Maya said softly I was afraid but now now I think I'm ready for whatever comes next Miss Elsbeth nodded this is just the beginning Maya there are many more trials ahead but remember bravery isn't about being fearless it's about facing your fears even when you are scared Maya smiled her heart lighter than it had been in months the world ahead was vast full of wonders and she was starting to realize full of possibilities the sun hung low in the sky casting a soft golden glow over the landscape as Maya and Miss Elsbeth journeyed deeper into the heart of the forest the trees began to change their trunks twisting and spiraling into shapes that looked almost human the air grew warmer tinged with the scent of jasmine and something faintly salty I feel like we're getting closer Maya said a mix of excitement and anxiety bubbling up inside her Miss Elsbeth smiled and nodded we are the next trial awaits at the lake of lost echoes Maya's brow furrowed the lake of lost echoes what's that?

Miss Elsbeth didn't answer right away instead she led Maya toward a clearing where the trees parted to reveal a vast shimmering lake its surface was smooth as glass and though there were no ripples it reflected the sky and the trees perfectly almost too perfectly it was as if the lake was holding its breath this is where your next trial begins Miss Elsbeth said softly but be warned Maya the lake has a way of drawing out things you've left behind Maya approached the water cautiously feeling a strange pull in her chest what do you mean?

The lake echoes the things you've lost the things you haven't fully let go of yet and it shows you them again and again until you face them the lake's surface shimmered and slowly images began to form shadows of people and places Maya hadn't thought about in months she saw her parents smiling at her as they had the day before the accident the memory was so vivid so real that Maya felt a lump form in her throat she hadn't allowed herself to think about them for so long but here they were staring back at her from the water their voices soft but clear Maya they said in unison their voices echoing across the water come back to us Maya Maya stepped back her heart racing no it's not real it's not them it's the lake's echo Miss Elsbeth said it shows you what you're afraid to lose again what you haven't let go of yet but you mustn't be drawn into it you can't stay in the past Maya Maya's heart hammered in her chest she wanted to reach out to call back to them to return to the life she once knew but deep down she knew it wasn't real her parents were gone and she had to move forward with shaking hands Maya took a deep breath and stepped toward the water she looked at her reflection not the one of her parents but her own stronger now braver than before the ripples of the lake began to fade as her resolve grew I'm not going back Maya whispered to herself and with that the images in the water began to dissolve the lake's surface settled once more and the silence returned Miss Elsbeth smiled her eyes filled with pride you did it Maya you faced what you've been avoiding Maya felt a weight lift from her shoulders it wasn't gone completely but she had taken the first step toward healing

Reviews

Got me to sleep numerous times, but I finally heard it all now! Great messaging, thank you ❤️🙏🏼