READ OUT LOUD AND RECORD THE FOLLOWING STORY

Maya stepped carefully into the abandoned train tunnel, the air cool and damp around her. She could hear the distant dripping of water echoing against the concrete walls, and her flashlight beam cut through the darkness, revealing graffiti left by people before her.

She wasn’t here for the art. She was looking for something her brother, Leo, had hidden before he moved away last summer. In his last text to her, Leo had written, “Find the echo, and you’ll find what I left for you.” Those words had repeated in Maya’s mind for months.

As she walked deeper, she found a spot where her footsteps sounded louder, bouncing back quickly, creating a sharp echo. She stopped and looked around, spotting a loose brick near the tunnel’s edge. Her hands shook as she pulled it out, revealing a small metal box.

Inside, there was a folded letter and a silver chain with a small compass attached. The letter explained that the compass had been their grandfather’s, passed to Leo, and now to her, so she would always find her way even when life felt dark.

Holding the compass, Maya felt a warmth in the cold tunnel, realizing that even though Leo was far away, his gift would guide her through moments of uncertainty. She stepped back into the daylight, gripping the compass tightly.