THE LIGHT BEYOND LOSS

Tides of Change

Livia wasn't sure what was more overwhelming: the rumors swirling around her or the strange new emotions she was feeling in Jonas's presence. The simple, quiet life she had envisioned at Gothenburg International Academy had been swept away by a whirlwind of unexpected attention. Emma and the others tried to shield her from the gossip, but it was impossible to avoid completely. The whispers about her and Jonas grew louder every day, and she was struggling to hold it together.

The encounter outside the classroom had made it clear that Jonas was aware of the situation. But since then, he had kept his distance—whether intentionally or not, Livia couldn't tell. She hadn't seen much of him over the last few days, and in some ways, it was a relief. In other ways, it left her with a gnawing uncertainty. She couldn't figure out how she felt about him. Her life had been so focused on moving forward that she hadn't really allowed herself to consider anyone else.

But Jonas—he was kind, charming, and effortlessly popular. He wasn't Viktor, and Livia wasn't even sure she wanted him to be. There was a part of her that felt guilty for even thinking about someone else. After all, Viktor had been her world. But now, the world had moved on, and so had she, even if she didn't want to admit it.

The next morning, as she was getting ready for another day of classes, Livia felt her phone buzz on her desk. She picked it up, expecting another text from Emma or Isabelle, but instead, it was a message from Jonas.

"Hey. Sorry for the distance lately. Wanna catch up later? Library at 4?"

She stared at the message, confusion written all over her face. She hadn't expected this. Livia hesitated for a moment before typing out a simple response.

"Sure, see you there."

The rest of the day passed in a daze. She sat through classes, her mind half-present, her thoughts constantly drifting back to Jonas. What did he want to talk about? Was it about the rumors? Or was it something more?

By the time the clock struck 4, Livia was standing outside the library, nervously clutching the strap of her backpack. She wasn't sure why she was so anxious. After all, it was just Jonas. They were friends—barely, but still friends. As she pushed open the doors and walked inside, she spotted him sitting at a table near the back, flipping through a notebook.

He looked up when she approached, flashing that familiar smile. "Hey."

"Hey," she replied, her voice sounding more strained than she intended. She took a seat across from him, unsure how to start the conversation.

Jonas seemed to sense her unease. He leaned back in his chair, his green eyes studying her for a moment. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I guess. Just... you know, everything's been kind of crazy lately."

He nodded. "Yeah, I get it. I wanted to talk to you about that."

Livia's stomach tightened. So it was about the rumors. She tried to stay calm as she waited for him to continue.

"I didn't realize things had gotten so bad," Jonas said, his tone serious now. "I know people have been talking. I heard some of the stuff they've been saying, and I just wanted to make sure you're doing okay."

Livia sighed, running a hand through her short bob of hair. "It's been tough. I didn't expect all of this attention. I came here to get away from... things. And now it feels like I'm in the middle of something I don't even understand."

Jonas's expression softened. "I'm really sorry if I've made things harder for you. I didn't mean for this to happen."

She shook her head. "It's not your fault. People will talk no matter what. I just didn't realize how much people cared about who you hang out with."

He let out a short laugh. "Yeah, I guess that comes with the territory. But I don't want you to feel like you're stuck in this. If it's too much, I can back off. We don't have to hang out if it's making things worse."

For some reason, the thought of Jonas backing off made Livia's chest tighten. She didn't want that. Despite the rumors and the chaos, there was something about being around him that made her feel... lighter. And that was something she hadn't felt in a long time.

"No, it's not that," she said quickly. "I just... I don't know how to handle all of this. I'm still trying to figure things out."

Jonas leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "You don't have to figure it out all at once. Just take it one day at a time. And if you ever need to talk, I'm here."

His words were simple, but they held a weight that made Livia's heart race. She nodded, not trusting herself to say anything more.

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment before Jonas broke it with a grin. "Anyway, enough heavy stuff. Have you checked out the football team yet? I could get you tickets to the next game."

Livia couldn't help but smile at his sudden change in tone. "I'll think about it. I'm not exactly a football fanatic."

"Ah, well, I'll have to change that. Everyone loves football."

As they laughed, the tension from earlier melted away. For the first time in weeks, Livia felt like things might actually be okay.

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"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." – Jon Kabat-Zinn

In a world where everything felt unpredictable, Livia was starting to realize that she didn't have to fight the chaos. She just had to find her way through it, one wave at a time.

-Hanuel!