THE LIGHT BEYOND LOSS

Bonds in the Making

The morning sun streamed through the windows of Gothenburg International Academy, casting a golden hue on the bustling campus as students hurried to their classes. Livia, now somewhat settled into her new routine, found herself walking with purpose, despite the uncertainty that lingered at the back of her mind. She had managed to survive her first few weeks here, but something still felt incomplete. The weight of the rumors that had begun swirling around her and Jonas still hung over her like a dark cloud, and the attention she never asked for continued to follow her wherever she went.

But today, Livia had made a promise to herself: she wouldn't let the rumors define her or shape her experience at GIA. This was her chance to start over, to grow, and to find herself again—without the shadows of her past or the weight of others' opinions.

As she made her way through the hallways, Emma caught up to her, practically bouncing with excitement. "Hey, guess what?" she said, falling in step beside Livia.

"What's up?" Livia asked, trying to match Emma's energy.

"There's this big charity event coming up," Emma explained, her eyes gleaming. "It's something the academy holds every year, a huge sports and cultural day. All the students get involved—athletics, art exhibitions, performances, and more. It's a big deal, and I was thinking it could be a good way for you to show people who you really are."

Livia raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well," Emma said, her voice softening slightly, "I know people have been talking, but this is a chance to redirect that attention. If you put yourself out there, do something you enjoy, people will see there's more to you than what they think."

Livia considered this for a moment. She had always been more of an introvert, finding comfort in books, writing, and her quiet world. But maybe Emma had a point. Maybe it was time to step out of her shell and stop hiding behind the walls she had built after Viktor's death.

"What would I even do?" Livia asked, doubt creeping into her voice. "I'm not really the athletic type."

Emma grinned. "That's the best part! There's so much more to the event than sports. There's an art competition, a music showcase, and even a creative writing contest."

Livia felt a spark of interest at the mention of writing. She had always loved expressing herself through words, creating stories that allowed her to escape reality, even if just for a little while.

"You could enter the writing contest," Emma suggested, as if reading her mind. "Or maybe even do a poetry reading or something. I know you've got some hidden talents."

Livia smiled, appreciating Emma's enthusiasm. "I'll think about it."

As they continued their walk toward class, Isabelle and Sophie joined them, both equally excited about the upcoming event. "I'm going to be playing in the girls' football match," Isabelle said, clearly proud. "Sophie's doing a live painting demonstration."

Sophie nodded, her expression more reserved but no less eager. "It's a good opportunity to show what we can do. You should definitely participate, Livia."

Feeling the warmth of her friends' encouragement, Livia began to entertain the idea more seriously. Maybe this was her chance to create new memories, ones that weren't haunted by loss or defined by what people thought of her.

When they reached class, they found their seats and settled in. But Livia's thoughts kept wandering back to the idea of participating in the event. Writing had always been her escape, her way of processing the world around her. Maybe sharing her words with others would be a step toward healing—toward finally moving forward.

Later that day, during lunch, Livia and her friends sat at their usual table near the window. As they ate, they continued discussing the charity event, each of them excitedly talking about what they were planning to do. Just as the conversation was picking up, a familiar voice interrupted them.

"Hey, mind if I sit here?"

Livia looked up to see Jonas standing there with his tray of food, a friendly smile on his face. Emma and Isabelle exchanged a quick glance, clearly still not over their shock at Jonas's attention toward Livia. Sophie, however, kept her composure, though a slight blush crept up her cheeks.

"Uh, sure," Livia said, gesturing to an empty seat.

Jonas sat down, completely oblivious to the tension his presence created. "So, are you all participating in the event?" he asked, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"We are," Emma replied, her usual confidence returning. "Isabelle's playing football, Sophie's painting, and Livia's thinking about entering the writing contest."

Jonas raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Writing, huh? I didn't know you were a writer."

Livia shrugged, feeling slightly self-conscious. "I've always enjoyed it. It's just something I do to clear my head."

Jonas smiled. "You should go for it. People always appreciate good writing. It's a lot more impactful than most people realize."

His words, though casual, hit Livia with unexpected force. She had spent so long burying her feelings and avoiding vulnerability, but maybe Jonas was right. Maybe it was time to let people see a different side of her.

Just then, another figure approached their table. This time, it was Jonas's brother, John Karlsson. He had the same striking features as Jonas—tall, with dark hair and bright green eyes—but his aura was different. Where Jonas was more outgoing and lighthearted, John carried himself with a quiet intensity that was hard to ignore.

"Mind if I join?" John asked, his voice low and steady.

The girls exchanged another round of glances, their table now officially the most popular spot in the cafeteria. "Of course," Emma said, trying to keep her cool.

John sat down beside Jonas, his gaze briefly meeting Livia's. "So, you're the new girl everyone's talking about."

Livia's heart sank slightly at the reminder of the rumors, but she kept her expression neutral. "I guess I am."

John nodded, as if assessing her response. "Don't worry. People talk, but it doesn't mean anything."

It was a simple statement, but coming from John, it held weight. Unlike Jonas, who seemed to brush things off with ease, John appeared to be more deliberate in his words and actions. His reassurance felt oddly comforting.

The conversation shifted back to the charity event, with the brothers discussing their roles in the football match. Livia found herself relaxing a little, even though the attention from the two most popular boys in the academy still felt surreal. Emma, Sophie, and Isabelle were clearly loving every moment of it, their excitement bubbling just beneath the surface.

As the lunch period drew to a close, Jonas and John excused themselves, leaving the girls to reflect on what had just happened.

"That was... something," Sophie finally said, her voice filled with awe.

"Something is right," Isabelle added, shaking her head. "I still can't believe they sat with us."

Livia, though still overwhelmed by the attention, felt a strange sense of calm. Maybe it was Jonas's encouragement, or John's quiet reassurance, but for the first time since arriving at GIA, she didn't feel like she was drowning in the rumors. Maybe things were starting to shift in her favor.

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"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."
— Dr. Seuss

-Hanuel!