Arthur trudged along the dirt path, his heart heavy. Miss Matildaâthe girl who had woven magic into his lifeâhad left a letter to say she has left.Her absence echoed through the empty fields, and the farmhouse loomed ahead, its windows dark.
His parents, busy with chores, barely looked up as he entered. His mother stirred a pot of soup, her eyes tired. "Arthur," she said, "you're back early."
He sank into a chair, the wood creaking under his weight. "Miss Matilda," he whispered. "Where is she?"
His father wiped his hands on a rag. "Gone," he said. "Back to her own home."
Arthur's chest tightened. "But where?" he asked. "Where does she live?"
His parents exchanged glancesâa silent conversation. His mother finally spoke. "Arthur," she said, "some things are best left unknown."
He slammed his fist on the table. "Why won't you tell me?"
His father's voice was gruff. "Because she's-"
"Garlie!"
Arthur remembered Miss Matilda's laughter, her eyes alight with wonder. "She's special," he said. "And I love her."
His mother's gaze softened. "I know but she felt it would be good to set home after all shes been here for long and I'm sure her parents await her"
He stormed out of the farmhouse, the door banging shut behind him. The sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the fields. He wandered, lost in memoriesâtheir secret hideaway by the creek, the way she read poetry under the ancient oak.
And then, in the distance, he saw itâa small cottage nestled among the trees. Miss Honey's cottageâthe one she had described with such longing. Its windows glowed with warmth, and smoke curled from the chimney.
Arthur's heart raced. He knocked on the door, breathless. Miss Honey opened it, her eyes wide. "Arthur?" she said. "What are you doing here?"
"I need to find her," he said. "Miss Matilda. She's left, and I can't bear it."
Miss Honey's gaze softened. "She's gone home," she said. "To her own parents house where she stays."
"But where?" Arthur pleaded. "Where does she live?"
Miss Honey hesitated, then pointed toward the hills. "Follow the winding path," she said. "Past the Jelimore river.You'll find her there near in that village"
Arthur jumped on his horse and soon he was off.The mist thickened, and as he crossed the bridge, he saw a white and grey house looking lonely.
Arthur stood before Matilda's empty home, the air thick with anticipation. The silence echoed in his chest, urging him forward. The mountain loomed in the distance, its peaks shrouded in mist. The forest, ancient and mysterious, beckoned him with whispered secrets. His heart raced as he stepped out onoth the porch he driven by a force beyond reason. What awaited him there? Only time would reveal the answers hidden within the shadows. His mind churned with worry. Was she safe? Had she left willingly, or was there something more sinister at play? He glanced once more at the mountain, its ancient slopes cloaked in mystery. The forest whispered secrets, urging him forward. With determination, he set off, each step echoing the rhythm of his heartbeat. Miss Matilda was out there, and he would find her, no matter the cost.