English Short Stories | Short Stories in English to Read

The Haunted Library

Sarah had been working at the old Millbrook Library for just a few weeks when strange things started to happen. Books would fall off shelves for no reason.

Lights would flicker on and off. Sometimes, she’d hear soft whispers when nobody else was around.

At first, Sarah tried to ignore these odd events. But one night, as she was closing up the library, she saw something that made her heart skip a beat.

A misty figure floated between the bookshelves, then vanished into thin air.

Sarah realized the library was haunted by a ghost. She was scared, but also curious.

Who was this ghost? Why was it here? She decided to find out more.

The next day, Sarah started researching the library’s history. She learned it was built over 100 years ago by a rich man named William Harper.

William loved books and wanted to share them with everyone in town.

That night, Sarah stayed late at the library. When everything was quiet, she spoke out loud: “Hello? Is anyone there?

I’m Sarah, the new librarian. I’d like to talk to you if I can.”

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a cold breeze swept through the room, and the misty figure appeared again.

This time, it didn’t disappear. Instead, it took the shape of a man in old-fashioned clothes.

“You can see me?” the ghost asked in a soft voice.

Sarah nodded, trying not to show how scared she felt. “Yes, I can. Who are you?”

“I’m William Harper,” the ghost replied. “I built this library long ago.”

Sarah’s eyes widened. “Why are you still here, Mr. Harper?”

William’s ghostly face looked sad. “I can’t leave. There’s something I need to do, but I don’t know what it is. I’ve been stuck here for so long.”

Sarah felt sorry for the ghost. “Maybe I can help you figure it out. Can you tell me more about yourself?”

Over the next few weeks, Sarah and William talked every night after the library closed. William told her about his life, his love for books, and how he built the library.

Sarah listened carefully, hoping to find a clue about why William’s spirit was still here.

One day, while cleaning an old storage room, Sarah found a dusty box full of William’s personal papers.

Among them was a letter he had written but never sent. It was to his daughter, Emma, who had moved away after a big fight with her father.

In the letter, William apologized for their argument and begged Emma to come home. He wrote about how much he missed her and how he wanted to make things right.

But William had died before he could send the letter.

Sarah realized this might be the reason William’s ghost was still in the library. He needed to make peace with his daughter.

That night, Sarah showed the letter to William’s ghost. As he read it, tears formed in his misty eyes. “Oh, Emma,” he whispered. “I never got to tell her how sorry I was.”

Sarah had an idea. “What if we try to find Emma or her family? Maybe we can give them the letter.”

With William’s help, Sarah searched for information about Emma. It took a while, but finally, she found Emma’s granddaughter, an old woman named Clara who lived in a nearby town.

Sarah invited Clara to the library and showed her William’s letter. Clara was amazed.

She told Sarah that her grandmother Emma had always regretted not making up with her father before he died.

That night, William’s ghost appeared one last time. He looked happier than Sarah had ever seen him.

“Thank you, Sarah,” he said. “Now Emma will know how I felt. I can finally rest in peace.”

With a gentle smile, William’s ghost began to fade away. “Take care of my library,” he said softly as he disappeared.

From that day on, the strange events at the library stopped. But Sarah never forgot her talks with William’s ghost.

She worked hard to keep the library a welcoming place for everyone, just as William had wanted.

And sometimes, when she walked through the quiet library at night, Sarah thought she could feel a friendly presence watching over her and the books.

She knew that even though William’s ghost was gone, his love for the library would always remain.

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English Short Stories | Short Stories in English to Read

The Mysterious Neighbor

The Miller family had just moved to the small town of Oakville. There was Mom, Dad, and their two kids – 10-year-old Sam and 8-year-old Lucy.

They were excited about their new home, a cozy house on a quiet street lined with tall oak trees.

As they unpacked their boxes, Sam and Lucy noticed something strange about the house next door. It was an old, grey house with overgrown bushes and a messy yard.

The curtains were always closed, and they never saw anyone come in or out.

“Mom, who lives there?” Sam asked one day, pointing at the mysterious house.

Mom shrugged. “I’m not sure, honey. I haven’t seen anyone yet.”

Days turned into weeks, and still, the Millers never caught a glimpse of their neighbor. They started to wonder and make up stories about who might live there.

“Maybe it’s a wizard brewing magic potions!” Lucy giggled.

“Or a mad scientist building a time machine,” Sam suggested.

Dad laughed. “I’m sure it’s just someone who likes their privacy.”

But the kids couldn’t stop thinking about the mystery next door. They started watching the house more closely, hoping to catch a peek of the person inside.

One day, while playing in the backyard, Sam and Lucy heard a noise coming from the mysterious house. It sounded like… music?

They crept closer to the fence and listened. Yes, it was definitely music – soft and sweet, like a lullaby.

“We have to find out who’s in there,” Sam whispered to Lucy.

The next day, feeling brave, they decided to knock on the door.

Their hearts pounded as they walked up the overgrown path. Sam reached out and knocked three times.

At first, nothing happened. Then, they heard shuffling footsteps inside. The door creaked open just a crack, and they saw a wrinkled face peering out.

“Hello?” a soft voice said. It belonged to an old lady with white hair and kind eyes.

“Hi,” Sam said, suddenly feeling shy. “We’re your new neighbors. We… we were wondering why we never see you outside.”

The old lady’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. “Oh, my dears. I’m Mrs. Rosewood. I don’t get out much because of my bad hip. Would you like to come in for some cookies?”

Sam and Lucy looked at each other, surprised and excited. They nodded eagerly.

Inside, the house was cozy and filled with books and colorful paintings. Mrs. Rosewood told them she used to be an artist but couldn’t paint anymore because her hands shook too much.

Now she spent her days reading and listening to music.

“But it does get lonely sometimes,” she admitted.

From that day on, Sam and Lucy visited Mrs. Rosewood often. They helped her with chores, listened to her stories, and even started learning to play the piano from her.

The Millers invited Mrs. Rosewood for dinner, and soon she became like a grandmother to the family.

With their help, she started venturing outside again, tending to her garden and enjoying the sunshine.

The mysterious house wasn’t so mysterious anymore. Instead, it became a place of friendship and warm cookies, proving that sometimes the best adventures happen right next door.

As the seasons changed, the grey house transformed. The yard was neat again, filled with colorful flowers.

The curtains were often open, letting in light and laughter. And the best part?

Everyone in the neighborhood now knew the kind lady who lived there, thanks to two curious kids who took the time to knock on a door and solve a mystery.