THE LIGHT BEYOND LOSS

New Paths! Unfamiliar Faces!

As Livia approached the help desk at Gothenburg International Academy (GIA), she tried to gather her thoughts, steady her breathing, and calm the nervous fluttering in her chest. The receptionist, a woman in her early thirties with a warm and inviting smile, greeted her as soon as she stepped forward.

"Hi there! You must be Livia Söderberg, right?" the attendant asked, glancing down at some documents on her desk.

Livia nodded, trying to return the smile. "Yes, that's me."

"Great! I'm Sofia," the woman introduced herself. "Let's get you settled."

The next few moments felt like a whirlwind. Sofia efficiently walked Livia through some of the basic rules of the academy, handed her a crisp sheet of paper with her class schedule, and provided her with an ID card to access various facilities on campus. Livia watched as Sofia moved with practiced ease, her hands never faltering as she flipped through documents and organized everything. It was comforting, in a way, to see someone so assured when Livia herself felt so unmoored.

"And lastly," Sofia said, sliding a small piece of paper across the desk, "this is a contact for Emma Park. She's one of our senior students and one of the top achievers at the school. Super friendly and helpful, and we've assigned her to be your buddy for today—just in case you need someone to show you around or help with anything. She's expecting you, so feel free to call or text."

Livia's fingers hesitated for a moment as she picked up the slip of paper with Emma's name and number written on it. It was a nice gesture, but she felt strange about calling a total stranger out of the blue. The idea of Emma, probably an accomplished, put-together girl, dealing with her—the shy, unsure new girl—felt intimidating.

"Thanks," Livia mumbled, slipping the paper into her pocket.

Sofia gave her an encouraging smile, sensing her hesitation. "It's okay if you're nervous. It's always a bit daunting on the first day, but you'll be fine. Trust me. Just take your time and feel free to reach out if you need anything."

Livia gave her a small, grateful nod, then left the help desk, her backpack slung over one shoulder as she stepped back into the flow of students moving through the campus. The early autumn sun cast a gentle golden hue over everything, making the buildings and trees glow warmly in the morning light. She felt a surge of uncertainty bubbling inside her, like she was a small boat adrift in a vast sea of unfamiliar faces and places.

She glanced down at her class schedule, noting that her first class—Introduction to European History—started in twenty minutes. The building wasn't too far, so she decided to skip calling Emma for now and find her way to class on her own. Navigating through the large campus was a bit of a challenge, but eventually, she found the right building and slipped into the classroom with a few minutes to spare. 

The room was already filling up with students. Livia quietly took a seat near the back, hoping to blend in and avoid any unwanted attention. She set her notebook and pen on the desk, trying to calm the rush of thoughts racing through her mind. Fresh starts were supposed to be exciting, right? But instead, all Livia felt was a gnawing sense of unease, like she didn't quite belong here. Not yet, anyway. She thought back to Viktor, how his presence had always grounded her, how he'd be the one to crack a joke to make her laugh when she felt this way. But Viktor wasn't here anymore. And that realization brought a familiar ache to her heart. 

As students continued filing in, there was a soft buzz of chatter around the room. Livia found herself studying her classmates, observing their easy smiles, their confident strides. They seemed comfortable here, like they already knew who they were and where they were headed. Just as the professor began setting up for the class, the door swung open, and a girl walked in, instantly catching Livia's attention. She had long, shiny black hair tied up into a high ponytail, her bangs perfectly framing her face. Her skin was pale, her lips glossy with a hint of rose pink. She was petite and carried herself with a quiet elegance that seemed to draw everyone's gaze. Livia didn't need anyone to tell her who she was—this was Emma Park.