A story in 24 parts

One chapter a day: this story is told in 24 parts, and every morning, behind the next door, it goes on a little further. Today it begins. ✨

On the first morning of December, something was stuck to Mina's window. A tiny letter, no bigger than a stamp, on paper that shone like frost. Mina opened the window very carefully and unfolded it. Three words were written on it in shaky silver letters:

“Help. Fell down. – L.”

Mina looked out. In the fresh snow below the window lay a fine, glittering line. It ran right across the garden, all the way to the old apple tree.

And there, at the very bottom of the trunk, something blinked. Once. Then nothing.