Mending the Lunar Scars

Chapter 1

Homecoming is a great feeling, but what if you don't have a home to come back to? Tired of the familiar faces and the same old routines, I felt like I was floating on clouds, searching for a place to land. The stale air of the airport clung to my skin like a damp blanket, and the dull hum of the overhead luggage carousel filled my ears with a monotonous drone. My heart pounded in my chest as I stepped out into the crisp autumn air, the scent of fallen leaves and damp earth filling my nostrils.

The city skyline stretched out before me, a jagged silhouette against the fading twilight. I was a stranger in a strange land, a solitary traveler adrift in a sea of unfamiliar faces. My name is Raya, and this is my story. I'm not the person I thought I'd be, and life has a way of surprising you, even when you think you have it all figured out.

Moving out of my hometown, I was here at this college to start fresh. All I wanted was to forget the past, a bittersweet memory etched into my heart. I would have forgotten it if I could, but it was a part of me, a defining moment that had shaped who I was.

As I stepped out of the taxi and onto the winding roads of Gutenberg, a mix of emotions swirled inside me. The crisp autumn air nipped at my cheeks, and the scent of pine needles filled my nostrils. The unfamiliar landscape stretched out before me, a patchwork of vibrant foliage and towering trees. I felt a pang of homesickness, a familiar ache in my chest. But I was determined to leave the past behind and embrace this new chapter of my life.

The campus unfolded before me like a vibrant canvas, its majestic buildings bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. Lush greenery stretched out in all directions, the scent of pine needles and freshly cut grass mingling in the air. I felt a flutter in my chest, a glimmer of hope that this fresh start might just be what I needed to mend the lunar scars that had haunted me for so long.

"Raya Jones, Amerson," I introduced myself to my dorm mate, a bright-eyed girl with straight black hair and glittering green eyes. Stephy, my childhood best friend, who I thought I'd never see again, stood before me, her face beaming with surprise and delight.

We had parted ways in our early teenage years when his dad got a promotion. And here we were today, meeting each other unexpectedly. It felt like a miracle, a cosmic coincidence that had brought us back together.

As we hugged, tears of joy welling up in our eyes, we reminisced about old times. Our friendship, forged in kindergarten, had been rekindled in an instant. The warmth of her embrace was like a comforting blanket, wrapping me in a cocoon of familiarity.

"I missed you!" Stephy exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of joy and relief.

"I don't want to say anything less than what I'm feeling. I'm so happy to have you back in my life," I replied, my voice trembling slightly.

"I found my best friend back!" Stephy squealed, throwing her arms around me in a tight embrace.

"And it's even better that we're roommates!" I added, laughing.

"I wish I could agree less!" Stephy teased, playfully punching my arm.

We had been best friends since kindergarten. It was my first day and hers too, and I was there for her when she got stung by a bee. I just wanted to be there for her, even when we were no longer friends. I guess that's where our equations changed.

Stephy's eyes filled with tears as she remembered the day we had parted ways. "I never stopped thinking about you, Raya. I missed our adventures, our secrets, everything." "Me too," I admitted, wiping away a tear. "I felt so lost without you."

We stood there, holding each other tightly, the weight of our reunion washing over us. It was a moment of pure joy and relief, a reminder that even when life pulls you apart, sometimes the bonds of friendship can endure.