Ellie, an eleven-year-old girl, writes letters to her brother, Lenny, longing for an escape from her abusive stepfather, Carl. One night, she receives a mysterious reply urging her to meet. With newfound hope, Ellie embarks on a journey that makes her face reality and find a new, loving family.
Ellie, an eleven-year-old girl, was writing a letter alone by the window. The evening sun cast a warm glow on her delicate face, and she carefully chose each word she wrote, pouring her heart into the letter.
“Dear Lenny,
I’m writing to you again on my birthday. I really hope to see you soon.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The girl smiled, looking out the window. Her eyes shone with memories of a time when she was happy, and everything was good.
She could almost hear the echoes of her laughter with Lenny in the garden, where they played for hours. Gathering her thoughts, she returned to the letter.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“I always think about our hide and seek games. There were so many cool places to hide near our house. I had the best hiding spots, but you always found me. Now, I don’t play much anymore. Carl doesn’t let me go outside. He says I’m too much trouble and doesn’t have time to watch me. So, I have to stay in my room.”
Ellie paused, her hand trembling slightly. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She missed Lenny so much. His smile, his voice, everything about him—a memory she clung to dearly.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“I’m still waiting for you to keep your promise. Remember? You said you would take me away from here and we would travel together, but you haven’t come yet.”
Ellie’s eyes glistened as if she was about to cry, but she wiped her eyes and, smiling, continued writing the letter. She wanted to stay strong for Lenny, even if he wasn’t here.
“Please take me away from here. I don’t want to live with Carl anymore. Since Mom is gone, he’s been really mean. I’ll be waiting for your response.
I love you, Ellie”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
She carefully placed the letter in an envelope and sealed it with a heart-shaped stamp.
After writing the address, she went downstairs. Her footsteps light on the creaky wooden steps.
She pushed open the front door, the evening breeze brushing against her face.
As she ran outside, Carl, a forty-year-old man with an unkempt appearance, beard, and dirty clothes, noticed her.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“What’s that in your hand?” he barked, his voice rough and intimidating.
Ellie turned around fearfully and showed him the envelope. Her heart raced as she held it out.
“Oh, it’s that time of year again… How many years has it been since anyone replied to you? Three? Four?” Carl’s tone was mocking, his eyes cold and unfeeling.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The girl silently looked at her stepfather and patiently listened. She had learned not to argue, knowing it would only make things worse.
Carl sarcastically continued, his voice dripping with disdain.
“Well, this time, someone will definitely reply..”
After his sarcastic remark, Carl waved his hand dismissively and laughed, a harsh, grating sound that made Ellie flinch.
Ignoring his laughter, Ellie ran to the mailbox at the end of the driveway. The old, rusty mailbox creaked as she opened it.
She placed the letter inside and closed it gently, whispering a small prayer that someone would reply this time.
As she walked back to the house, Ellie felt a mix of hope and sadness.
She wanted to believe that Lenny would come and take her away, but a part of her feared that it was just a dream. Yet, she tightly held on to that hope, for it was all she had.
That night, Ellie lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows in her room.
She clutched a small stuffed bear, a gift from Lenny, close to her chest. With a sigh, she closed her eyes, whispering, “Please come, Lenny. I need you.”
As sleep finally took her, a single tear slid down her cheek, glistening in the moonlight. The night was silent, but her heart was filled with the faint, unwavering hope that her brother would hear her plea.
That night, the girl woke up to a strange noise. It was a soft rustling, like leaves brushing against the window.
Ellie sat up in bed, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and curiosity. She tiptoed to the window, carefully opening it to peer outside. There, tied to a branch just within reach, was a letter.
“He replied!” whispered Ellie, her voice trembling with excitement and disbelief. She reached out and untied the letter, bringing it inside.
Her hands shook as she opened the envelope.
“Dear Ellie, sorry for not responding for so long. Come to the nearby bus stop tomorrow morning, and we will meet.”
Ellie’s heart soared with hope. She held back her emotions to avoid making noise, fearing Carl might hear her.
She had to be careful and smart. Quietly, she started packing her backpack for the journey. She put on a few clothes, her favorite book, and the stuffed bear Lenny had given her.
Ellie woke up early in the morning. She dressed quickly and tiptoed downstairs, her backpack slung over her shoulder.
She reached for the door, her hand hovering over the doorknob, when Carl’s voice stopped her again.
“Where are you going?” Carl asked sternly, his eyes narrowing at her.
“I’m going out for a walk, just for a bit,” Ellie replied, trying to sound casual.
“How many times do I have to tell you? You cannot walk outside. Stay in your room!” Carl barked, his voice filled with anger.
Ellie felt her heart sink as she returned to her room. She sat on her bed, feeling afraid that her brother might not wait for her at the bus stop and that she might never see him again.
She wanted to know what had happened to him, where he had been. She couldn’t let this chance slip away.
Full of determination, Ellie climbed out of the window. Carefully moving her feet, she walked along the narrow ledge, her heart pounding in her chest.
She grabbed hold of the ladder that had been left against the roof for weeks because Carl was too lazy to put it away.
Step by step, she climbed down, her eyes fixed on the ground below.
Finally, she reached the bottom and took a deep breath.
She was free. Ellie adjusted her backpack and started walking towards the bus stop, her heart filled with hope and a little bit of fear.
She didn’t know what the day would bring, but she was ready to find out.
Upon reaching the bus stop, Ellie looked around carefully, her eyes darting in every direction.
The early morning air was crisp and cool, and the street was quiet, except for the occasional chirp of birds.
She stood there, clutching her backpack tightly, her heart pounding with anticipation. But she did not see her brother anywhere.
“Did he leave without waiting for me?” she thought, her heart sinking. Tears welled up in her eyes as she began to fear the worst.
Suddenly, an elderly man approached her, his steps slow and steady. He wore a kind smile on his weathered face, and his eyes twinkled with warmth.
“Hello, Ellie. We haven’t met before; I’m Peter, the postman who works in your area.”
Ellie looked up, surprised and a bit wary. “Good day, Peter,” she replied politely, extending her small hand to greet him.
The old man smiled and shook her hand gently.
“Sorry, but the letter you received last night was from me. I’ve seen you write letters to your brother for years, and out of curiosity, I read one.”
Ellie’s face fell, and she felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. So, her brother hadn’t replied after all. She looked down, trying to hold back her tears.
Peter knelt down in front of her, his expression soft and understanding. He looked her straight in the eyes, his voice gentle.
“Tell me, are things really bad at home? I want to help you find your brother. I promise we’ll do everything we can.”
Ellie felt a glimmer of hope return. She smiled weakly and nodded in response to the old man. Maybe he could help her, even if it wasn’t the way she had imagined.
However, Peter decided to warn her, his tone serious. “But if we don’t find your brother, I’ll have to take you back home, okay?”
Ellie nodded again, understanding the gravity of the situation. Together, they began to plan the journey, her heart filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty.
As they discussed their next steps, Ellie felt a little less alone, knowing that someone cared enough to help her find the answers she desperately needed.
Arriving at the address where Ellie sent her letters, the girl excitedly pointed to a house.
It was an old, weathered building with peeling paint and overgrown weeds in the yard.
“Here! This is our house!” Ellie exclaimed, her voice filled with cheer.
“Are you sure?” the postman asked in surprise as the house looked abandoned and neglected.
“Yes!” Ellie repeated, still cheerful and confident.
Peter parked the car nearby and got out, holding Ellie’s hand. As they approached the house, Ellie broke free from his grip and ran inside, her footsteps echoing through the empty space.
Being older and slower, the postman couldn’t keep up with her.
“Wait, Ellie!” he called out, but she had already disappeared into the house.
Peter slowly followed her, his eyes scanning the abandoned house. Dust covered the floor, and cobwebs hung from the corners of the ceiling.
He noticed an old newspaper lying on a broken table. Picking it up, he saw a photo of a girl resembling Ellie along with a boy.
The headline read, “A terrible car accident claimed the lives of a woman and her son; the daughter is in the hospital…”
Seeing this headline, Peter froze, finally understanding everything. Ellie’s brother hadn’t replied because he couldn’t. He had died in a car accident.
Climbing to the upper floor, Peter found Ellie sitting on an old, faded sofa in one of the rooms.
She was hugging her backpack tightly and looking at her feet, feeling sad and lost.
“Ellie, I need to tell you something…” Peter said awkwardly, trying to find the right words.
“That Lenny died?… I know…” Ellie replied sadly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Peter was taken aback. “Then why? Why did you agree to come?”
“I just wanted to get away from my stepfather. I don’t like it there. I wish everything could be like it used to be,” Ellie explained, her eyes filled with longing.
Peter sat next to the girl and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. He wanted to help her, to take her pain away, but he knew that was impossible.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small photo of his dog.
“What’s his name?” Ellie asked, her interest piqued.
“Rocky… He’s a good boy,” Peter replied with a smile.
“Good boy,” Ellie repeated, a slight smile forming on her lips.
Peter looked at Ellie seriously.
“Would you like to live with us? I know this is a sudden proposal, but if I report your stepfather to child services, you’ll be placed in a foster family, and it might take a long time before you find a new loving family. But if I’m allowed, I would gladly adopt you.”
“Really?” Ellie asked, her eyes wide with hope.
Peter smiled warmly. “Yes.”
A difficult month passed after Peter contacted child services. Carl lost his parental rights due to his inappropriate behavior towards Ellie.
The process was long and filled with uncertainty, but eventually, everything fell into place. Ellie found a new family that loved and valued her, living with Peter and Rocky.
Every day, Ellie felt more at home. Peter made sure she felt safe and loved, and Rocky quickly became her best friend.
Ellie knew that while she could never forget Lenny, she had found a new family that cared for her deeply. As she sat in her new room, filled with light and warmth, Ellie felt a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in a long time.