Kara’s face turned blank as she noticed the whole in the wall was filled with beautiful black bricks and there was no easy way out. Trying not to squint, Kara looked up only to find and immense group of Silver Birch trees huddled together like school children stuck on a maths equation. Leaves clung to the trees and huge finger-like branches towered over Kara. She could just picture something in the tallest Silver Birch there was: something that looked a lot like a door.

Luckily, she had plenty of great experience of climbing trees as last summer she had saved several cats from some of the highest branches in her garden. Her dad had told her that she should start a club and that she “knew no fear”. Securing her foot into place, Kara grasped onto a branch and heaved her body up. She knew she could do it as long as she didn’t look down or misplace her feet. With out looking back, she clenched her fists around another branch and began to ascend.

Up. Up. Up she went. Sweat trickled down her cheek but she knew she couldn’t stop; not now she had come this far. Her heart punched her chest. Desperately, she held a emaciated hand out, quickly grabbing another branch. The door was in sight and almost in reach. Finally, Kara placed her hand onto the door handle and heaved her body weight up. With a thud, she fell into the Emporium’s forbidden corridors, lantern light filling her vision. She felt as if nothing had happened as her finger nails were completely clean and her clothes didn’t even have a smudge of bark on. Her head was like a wasps nest swarming and busy. What had happened?

Guiltily, Kara crept back into the Emporium’s centre, her heart like an African drum. Mr Sander glared at her, his face rich with betrayal.
“Look, Mr Sander,” Kara stuttered but she was interrupted.
“It’s ok. Allow me to talk first. I believe you drew a room in my book. Am I correct?”
Kara fiddled with her nails but didn’t say anything.

“The thing is, my Emporium is full of incredible rooms and magic but the past cannot be undone. When things are over, they are over. Now surely you should be getting home but assure me that you will return another day,” Mr Sander bellowed, beaming down at Kara.

Forgetting what the normal world looked like, Kara tripped over the front step. The feeling of leaving this mysterious place beckoned in Kara’s mind like a woodpecker on a branch. Turning around, she went to grab for the gold handle but it was gone; the whole Emporium had completely vanished. Shaking the last sprinkle of magic away, Kara began the short journey home.

Maybe tomorrow, she thought to herself. Maybe tomorrow.