It was time to clean out the attic.

Yay..?

I reached up to pull down the ladder and nervously climbed up, pulling myself into the attic.

The attic was dark and creepy, I hated this place.

I reached down and picked up a box of old clothes then very carefully went back down the ladder.

After a few trips, I noticed an envelope in a box of old toys.

I set the box down then crouched and plucked the envelope out of it, it was addressed to my mother. My heart stopped, I felt like it was important.

I opened it and pulled out the letter inside of it

After I unfolded it my eyes darted across the paper.

Dear Emma,

I hope you are doing well, but I have a message. I feel as though I’m close to death, I need you to know that your child will be the one who shows you this letter, who finds what I have hidden.

Ten steps toward the house from the tree in the backyard and three feet down, I know you will like what you find there.

-Sincerely, your mother, Jessie

I lowered the paper, confused.

The letter must have been mailed; if so, then how did it make it to the attic of my house?

The house used to belong to my mother, but she had given it to me when I turned eighteen.

I knew I had to keep cleaning the attic, but curiosity overcame me and I abandoned the letter and the boxes, grabbed a shovel from my garage and headed out to the backyard.

A huge tree was in around the middle of my backyard.

I put my back to the bark of the tree, facing the back of my house.

“One,”

“Two,”

“Three,”

“Four,”

“Five,”

“Six,”

“Seven,”

“Eight,”

“Nine,”

“Ten!”

I stopped and started digging.

After awhile, my shovel hit something.

Crouching down, I swept away the rest of the dirt covering the top of a trunk.

My heart pounding, I opened it to see actual. Solid. Gold. Coins.

I reached over and pinched my arm, I was awake.

Sudden ideas flooded my mind.

I could use this to help orphans and homeless people.

I could finally buy that expensive car I’ve been wanting.

I could- no- I should split this with my mother, the letter was addressed to her.

Smiling, I pulled out my phone and called her.