THE LIGHT BEYOND LOSS

The Unspoken

Livia's heart felt heavy as the car pulled up in front of the house. Her mother, Elin, stood at the doorstep, a bright smile on her face, holding the promise of comfort and warmth. She waved enthusiastically, and as soon as Livia stepped out of the car, the aroma of her favorite meal—meatballs with lingonberry sauce—wrapped around her like a warm hug.

"Welcome home, sweetie," Elin greeted her, embracing Livia tightly. Livia melted into the hug, feeling the familiar comfort of home seep into her bones. As they stepped inside, her father, Anders, was already setting the table, humming an old folk tune. Everything felt so familiar, yet there was an emptiness in Livia's heart that home couldn't quite fill.

Dinner was filled with chatter. Her mom shared updates about the neighbors, while her dad talked about the latest projects at work. Livia listened, nodding along, offering short responses, but her mind was elsewhere. The food, though delicious, was just a distraction. Her thoughts were with Viktor—her closest friend, her partner in dreams. She hadn't spoken about him much since coming home, but his presence lingered in every corner of her mind, in every quiet moment.

After dinner, she excused herself and headed to her room. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring out the window at the night sky, the stars twinkling like distant memories. She thought of Viktor, and their shared dream—the one they had held so close, one they had talked about endlessly.

They had always dreamt of traveling the world together. Livia and Viktor had a list—a long one—of places they wanted to visit. Italy, to see the art and eat gelato by the sea. Japan, to walk through the cherry blossoms and visit old temples. Iceland, to see the Northern Lights and feel the magic of the midnight sun. They had planned to do it all once they finished school, making a promise to save up and start their grand adventure.

Now, the thought of traveling without Viktor felt hollow. The dream wasn't the same without him. As she sat there, the weight of his absence pressed down on her, and the overwhelming flood of emotions was too much to bear. Tears blurred her vision as she thought about how different everything would have been if he were still here. What would he say to her right now? Would he tease her for being so serious? Or comfort her with that warm smile that could make anything feel better?

Livia let herself cry, the tears flowing freely as she curled up in her bed, clutching the pillow as if it could somehow fill the emptiness. She cried until exhaustion took over, and eventually, she drifted off into a restless sleep, her dreams filled with the echoes of Viktor's laughter.

The next morning, Livia woke up feeling drained. Her eyes were puffy, and her heart still ached. But as she walked downstairs, she found her mother waiting for her in the kitchen, holding a cup of coffee. Elin didn't say anything at first, just handed her the cup and sat down across from her at the kitchen table. The silence between them was thick with understanding.

"I was thinking," her mother began gently, "maybe it's time you visited Viktor's family. Ingrid called yesterday. She asked about you."

Livia's heart sank at the suggestion. She hadn't been to Viktor's house since his passing. The thought of facing his family, seeing his room, being surrounded by everything that reminded her of him—it felt unbearable. "I... I don't know, Mom," she said quietly, looking down at her coffee.

"I understand," Elin said, her voice soft and comforting. "It's hard. But Ingrid and Peter miss you. And the twins... they still ask about you. They're only three, Livia, but they remember you. It might help, being there. To talk. To remember him in a way that doesn't hurt so much."

Livia didn't respond immediately. She felt torn between the desire to avoid the pain and the guilt that gnawed at her for staying away for so long. After a long moment, she finally nodded. "Okay, I'll go," she whispered, her voice barely audible.