The Willow House towered over the deserted street, its dilapidated facade telling stories of an era long gone. Its once vibrant charm now reduced to forlorn vacancy, a cruel ruse to deter the curious.

From afar, the young girl, Molly, watched the decaying edifice. Its grey walls, cracked windows, and eerie silence intrigued her. Brimming with courage, she decided to explore the house.

As Molly's small boots echoed in the empty house, a chill ran down her spine. Shadows danced on the walls, as the sun's rays barely pierced through the foggy windows.

Exploring the ground floor, Molly found an old dusty piano. A sudden gust of wind blew through the house, causing the piano to let out a haunting melody that echoed through the halls.

Molly’s heart pounded. The eerie tune and the sudden cold made her shudder. Driven by her curiosity, she moved towards the grand staircase.

The staircase creaked under her weight, each wooden step groaning in protest. Molly clung to the rickety railing, her heart pounding in her chest.

Upstairs, she found a corridor of closed doors. All were locked, except for one. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The room was bathed in a soft glow, emanating from an old mirror. The mirror was unlike any Molly had seen before, with an ornate golden frame and clear reflective surface.

As Molly peered into the mirror, she noticed her reflection ripple, and then, a ghostly figure appeared. It was a young girl, almost the same age as Molly.

The spectral girl smiled at Molly. Her fair hair was tied in ribbons, and she wore a dress similar to the ones Molly had seen in old photographs.

"I've been waiting for you," the ghost girl whispered. Her voice was soft and echoed ethereally, as though coming from the mirror itself.

Molly felt a tingle of fear, but also curiosity. She asked who the girl was and why she was in the mirror. The ghost explained that she once lived in the Willow House.

The ghost girl introduced herself as Anna. She told Molly that she was trapped in the mirror after her untimely death, and only a living person could free her.

Molly agreed to help Anna and followed her instructions. She ventured back down the creaky staircase, into the cellar hidden beneath the Willow House.

In the cellar, Molly found a small silver key. Anna had told her about this key; it was essential to her release. As she picked it up, she felt a surge of energy.

Molly hurried back up to the room with the mirror. With a trembling hand, she inserted the key into the tiny keyhole she had not noticed before on the mirror's frame.

The mirror's surface rippled like water, and Molly could see Anna clearly. Anna gave Molly a grateful smile before she disappeared into a blinding light.

As the light subsided, Molly found that the mirror was just a mirror again. The house felt different, lighter, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

Molly left the room and descended the staircase. The house was silent, but it was a peaceful silence, not the eerie quiet she had first encountered.

As she walked out of the front door, she looked back at the house. It still looked old and weary, but there was a sense of tranquility that wasn't there before.

Molly visited the Willow House every day after that. It didn’t feel lonely anymore, as though Anna’s spirit still lingered, making the house feel warm and welcoming.

In time, Molly grew older, and the visits became less frequent, but the Willow House remained as it was, a monument of an unusual friendship between the living and the dead.

Years passed, and the story of the haunted Willow House became a town legend, with Molly as its protagonist. The tale of a brave girl who freed a trapped spirit.

The Willow House was no longer a place of fear but a symbol of courageousness and compassion. A testament to Molly's bravery and her kindness towards a lonely ghost.

And so, the tale of the haunted Willow House ended not with fear but with closure. A story of a young girl who dared to explore the unknown and made an unforgettable friend.