THE LIGHT BEYOND LOSS

Solace

Livia woke the next morning to the faint sound of birds outside her window, a soft chirping that blended with the distant hum of morning activity on the Gothenburg International Academy campus. As she lay in bed, her thoughts raced back to the previous day—meeting Emma, Sophie, and Isabelle, the awkward yet somehow exciting cafeteria encounter with Jonas, and the stories she had heard about the infamous Karlsson brothers and Arnaud Dubois. She still felt slightly out of place, but a sense of anticipation stirred in her chest. Maybe this school wouldn't be as intimidating as she'd first imagined.

Deciding to shake off the lingering haze of sleep, she pulled herself out of bed and headed for the shower. The cold water woke her up instantly, and she stood under the spray, letting the events of yesterday settle in her mind. She wasn't quite sure what to make of everything just yet—this new school, these new friends, and especially Jonas. But she knew one thing: this was a new chapter, and she had to approach it with an open mind.

After getting dressed in her usual casual style—ripped jeans and an oversized sweater—Livia grabbed her schedule, which she had barely glanced at the day before. First period was History of International Relations, followed by Literature and Creative Writing. The day looked manageable, and she felt a flicker of excitement at the thought of the creative writing class.

As she packed her bag, she thought back to the dream she'd had about Viktor just a couple of days ago. His absence still hung over her, but there was something about this new place that allowed her, for brief moments, to forget the weight of her grief. She pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the day ahead.

When Livia arrived in the cafeteria for breakfast, the familiar sight of Emma and her friends waved her over. They were sitting in the same spot as yesterday by the window, sunlight streaming in and bathing the table in a golden glow. Emma smiled as she approached, her ever-friendly demeanor instantly putting Livia at ease.

"Good morning!" Emma called out, her voice light and cheerful. "Sleep well?"

Livia gave a small nod, sliding into the seat beside her. "Yeah, not bad. What about you?"

"Same, same," Sophie chimed in. "Isabelle was texting me way too late about football stats, though. I barely got any sleep."

Isabelle, across the table, rolled her eyes but grinned. "Hey, if you're going to keep up with the world of sports, you've got to stay updated."

Livia laughed softly as she set down her tray—a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit. The food was, as always, remarkably good for a school cafeteria. The eggs were fluffy, and the fruit was fresh, bursting with color. She took a bite of her toast, savoring the taste as the conversation flowed around her.

"So, any plans for today besides classes?" Emma asked as she sipped her coffee.

"I might check out the library during the break," Livia replied. "I heard it's huge, and I want to see if I can find some books to add to my reading list."

Sophie nodded eagerly. "Oh, the library is amazing! They have such a great collection. I found some rare art books in there last semester. You'll love it."

Isabelle leaned forward. "By the way, there's a football match this weekend. You should come! It's between the senior teams, and the Karlsson brothers will be playing."

Livia tensed slightly at the mention of Jonas again, but she nodded politely. "Sounds interesting. I'll think about it."

"Trust me, it'll be fun," Isabelle continued. "Plus, it's a great way to meet more people."

Livia glanced around the table, appreciating how welcoming these girls had been. Despite the initial overwhelming introductions and their enthusiasm for the school's social scene, they had a way of making her feel included, even if she wasn't quite ready to dive into everything headfirst.

After breakfast, the girls parted ways for their respective classes, and Livia found herself in the hallway, clutching her schedule as she searched for her History of International Relations class. The corridors were filled with students, some rushing to make it to their next period, others standing in small clusters, chatting animatedly about the latest gossip. She caught snippets of conversations as she passed—talks of upcoming projects, weekend plans, and the ongoing rivalry between the football teams.

Finally, Livia found the classroom and slid into a seat near the back. As the other students filed in, she busied herself with her notebook, hoping to go unnoticed for the time being. The professor, a tall man with graying hair and sharp eyes, began the class with a brief overview of the syllabus before diving into the first lecture on the evolution of international diplomacy in Europe.

Livia found herself absorbed in the material, her mind buzzing with new information. History had always fascinated her, and this class promised to be an engaging challenge. She took notes diligently, her pen moving quickly across the page as the professor explained key moments in European history, from the Treaty of Westphalia to the formation of the European Union.

As the class progressed, Livia found herself relaxing more and more. The material was familiar, comforting even, as it reminded her of the countless hours she'd spent reading history books in her previous school. Here, in the quiet focus of the classroom, she could momentarily forget the weight of her personal grief and the uncertainties of her new life.

After her classes ended, Livia made her way to the library, as planned. The building was every bit as impressive as Sophie had described—a vast, open space with tall windows that let in streams of light, rows of bookshelves filled to the brim with books of every genre, and a few students scattered about, engrossed in their own reading or working on assignments.

She wandered through the aisles, running her fingers over the spines of the books, pausing occasionally to read a title or pull out a book that caught her eye. She felt at home here, in this world of stories and ideas, where the weight of the outside world seemed to fade away.

As she sat down in one of the cozy reading nooks by the window with a book in hand, she let herself relax completely for the first time since arriving at Gothenburg International Academy. The world outside—the new faces, the social dynamics, the memories of Viktor—could wait for a little while longer.

"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." – T.S. Eliot

Livia, for the first time in what felt like forever, allowed herself to explore this new chapter of her life. She was still uncertain about what the future held, but maybe, just maybe, this new journey would lead her to a place of rediscovery, both of herself and the world around her.

- Hanuel !