One night, Susie finds a tiny glowing door inside her wardrobe and hears someone laughing on the other side.
Susie was seven, and her old wardrobe stood in the corner of her room like a sleepy giant. Most nights it only creaked when the house settled down.
But tonight, it made a soft knock-knock-knock.
Susie froze.
She slipped out of bed, padded across the floor, and opened the wardrobe door. At the very back, where coats and dresses should have been, there was a tiny silver door. It was no bigger than her colouring book.
A little breeze brushed Susie’s face. That was strange, because the wardrobe should have been closed up tight. Then she heard a faint giggle, as if someone inside was trying not to laugh too loudly.
Something sparkled on the shelf beside the tiny door. Susie picked it up. It was a silver key, cool and smooth in her hand.
Her heart thumped as she slid the key into the lock.
Click.
The little door swung open by itself, and a warm golden glow spilled out over her hands. Bright butterflies, made of light and colour, fluttered in the air like tiny floating lanterns.
Susie leaned closer, holding her breath.
On the other side, something moved in the shimmer, and a small voice whispered, “At last...”