The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Willow Creek as Emma Carter unlocked her front door. The familiar scent of old books and fresh lilies greeted her, a reminder of the home she had built after her grandmother's passing. She sighed, exhausted from another long shift at the library. Just as she stepped inside, her eyes fell upon a weathered envelope on the doormat.
There was no return address, just her name scrawled in elegant, faded cursive.
Emma's breath hitched. She recognized the handwriting instantly - her grandmother, Eleanor Carter, who had passed away ten years ago.
With trembling fingers, she tore open the envelope and pulled out a yellowed piece of paper. The ink had slightly faded, but the words were still legible.
"Dear Emma,If you're reading this, then I am gone. But I need you to uncover the truth. Everything you believed about your past was a lie. Look beneath the old oak tree. The answers begin there."
Emma's heart pounded. Her grandmother had never spoken of secrets, never hinted at anything unusual. What could she have possibly meant?
Without hesitation, she grabbed a flashlight and stepped into the crisp evening air, her destination clear - the towering oak tree in the backyard.