The Letter from 1945

EPISODE 3: The Letter

That night, Eleanor returned to Willow Hill House.

She searched every room.

If one letter had been hidden, perhaps there were others.

She checked drawers, cabinets, old trunks, and books.

Nothing.

Then she noticed something strange about the grandfather clock.

It had stopped at 11:45.

Eleanor removed the clock's wooden backing.

A folded piece of paper fell onto the floor.

Her heart pounded.

Another letter.

This one was addressed to Thomas.

Thomas,

If you are reading this, you must understand that I had no choice.

Eleanor's hands began shaking.

The letter continued:

They told me you were dead.

She stopped reading.

Someone had convinced Clara that Thomas had died.

But why?

And who were "they"?

Eleanor searched through her grandmother's belongings again.

Eventually, she found an old leather diary.

The first pages belonged to Margaret.

But the final section was written by someone else.

The handwriting was unfamiliar.

Eleanor read the final entry.

October 20, 1945.

Thomas is alive.

Her heart skipped.

Another entry followed.

But he cannot come home.

Then another.

Clara must never know the truth.

Eleanor closed the diary.

There was a name written beneath the final entry.

William Grace.

Her grandfather.

Eleanor stared at the page.

Her family had known Thomas.

More than that.

Her family had apparently been involved in keeping him away from Clara.