THE LIGHT BEYOND LOSS

Glimpse into the future

The morning after the charity fair, the sun crept through the curtains of Livia's dorm room, casting a warm, golden glow across the space. She stretched lazily in bed, feeling the soreness in her feet from dancing the night before. As her thoughts slowly came together, memories of the previous night flooded her mind. The music, the lights, and especially the unexpected dance with Jonas.

She lay there for a while, replaying the events in her head—the way Jonas had looked at her, the gentleness of his hand on her waist, and how for the briefest of moments, she had felt something shift between them. But what was it exactly? A simple dance? A blossoming of something deeper? She didn't know.

It was strange because she hadn't really thought of Jonas in that way before. Sure, he was charming, kind, and undeniably attractive. But Livia had been so caught up in her own grief, her own struggles, that she had never allowed herself to consider him in a romantic light. The idea left her both confused and intrigued.

As she sat up in bed, her phone buzzed. It was Sophie. The message was simple: Breakfast? Livia smiled and quickly texted back, Be there in 10.

By the time Livia arrived at the cafeteria, the usual morning crowd was already buzzing with life. Sophie waved her over from a table near the window, where Emma and Isabelle were also seated, their trays already filled with food. Livia grabbed a plate of scrambled eggs, toast, and some fruit before joining them.

"Look who decided to show up," Sophie teased with a grin as Livia sat down.

"You look like you've had a long night," Emma added, giving her a knowing glance.

Livia blushed slightly, aware that they were referring to her time on the dance floor with Jonas. "It was just a dance," she said, brushing it off, but her friends weren't having any of it.

"Oh, it was more than just a dance," Isabelle said with a smirk. "Jonas couldn't take his eyes off you the entire night."

Livia groaned. "Can we not make a big deal out of this? It's already awkward enough."

But Sophie wasn't going to let it go. "It's not awkward. It's cute! Besides, Jonas is a great guy, and from what I saw last night, he seems pretty interested."

Livia hesitated, unsure of what to say. The truth was, she hadn't figured out her own feelings yet. She was still navigating the loss of Viktor, the friend she had loved so deeply and whose absence still hung heavy on her heart. But she couldn't deny that something about Jonas intrigued her. The way he had looked at her last night wasn't just friendly. It was something more.

"I don't know," Livia finally said, staring down at her plate. "I'm still trying to figure things out."Sophie reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "Take your time. You don't have to rush into anything."

The conversation shifted to lighter topics after that—Sophie's latest art project, Isabelle's plans for the upcoming football tournament, and Emma's busy schedule with the student council. But throughout the morning, Livia's mind kept drifting back to Jonas. What did he feel for her? And more importantly, what did she feel for him?

Later that afternoon, Livia found herself wandering around campus, trying to clear her head. The day was crisp and cool, the autumn leaves rustling softly in the wind. As she walked past the student union, she spotted Jonas sitting on a bench, his head buried in a book. Part of her wanted to turn around and avoid any awkwardness, but another part of her—the curious part—urged her to walk over. Before she could second-guess herself, she found her feet moving toward him.

"Hey," she said softly when she was close enough.

Jonas looked up, surprised but pleased to see her. "Hey, Livia. What's up?"

She shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Just walking around. Mind if I sit?"

"Not at all," he said, moving his things aside to make room for her.

They sat in silence for a moment, watching as a group of students passed by, laughing and joking. It wasn't uncomfortable, but Livia felt the weight of the unsaid words between them.

"About last night," she began, unsure of how to phrase what she wanted to say. "I hope it wasn't weird."

Jonas chuckled softly. "Weird? No, not at all. Why would it be weird?"

Livia shifted in her seat, picking at a loose thread on her jacket. "I don't know. I guess I just wasn't expecting it, that's all. The dance, I mean."

He smiled, and there was a warmth in his eyes that made her heart flutter. "I wasn't expecting it either. But I'm glad it happened."

She looked at him, searching his face for any hint of awkwardness or discomfort. But there was none. Instead, there was something else—something genuine and sincere.

"I know you've been through a lot," Jonas said after a pause. "I don't want to rush anything or make things complicated for you. But I also want you to know that I care about you, Livia. A lot."

His words took her by surprise. She had known Jonas as a friend, someone she could count on for support and kindness, but hearing him say it out loud—his feelings for her—made her realize that maybe she had been overlooking something important.

"I care about you too, Jonas," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I'm still figuring things out."

He nodded, understanding. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."They sat there for a while longer, the silence between them now comfortable and easy. And for the first time in a long time, Livia felt a sense of peace. She didn't have to have all the answers right now. She didn't have to decide anything just yet. All she had to do was take things one day at a time.
As the days passed, life at GIA returned to its usual rhythm. Classes resumed, and the buzz of the charity fair began to fade into the background. Livia threw herself into her studies, determined to keep up with the workload. But in the quiet moments, when she wasn't distracted by lectures or assignments, her mind would drift back to Jonas.

Their relationship hadn't changed dramatically after that conversation on the bench. They were still friends, still spending time together in the same easy way they always had. But there was something different now, something unspoken that lingered between them. It wasn't just friendship anymore. It was something more—something that neither of them had fully explored yet, but both were aware of.

Livia wasn't sure where things would go from here. She wasn't ready for a relationship, not when her heart was still healing from the loss of Viktor. But for the first time since his death, she felt like she could see a future beyond the grief. A future where she could open herself up to love again, even if it took time.

One evening, Livia found herself back at her favorite spot under the old oak tree near the auditorium. The sun was setting, casting a soft, golden light over the campus. She pulled out her notebook and began to write, letting her thoughts flow freely onto the page:

"Sometimes, healing is a slow, winding journey. You take a step forward, then two steps back. But eventually, the pain softens, and you start to see the beauty in life again. It's not about forgetting the ones we've lost, but about finding a way to carry them with us as we move forward. We keep them in our hearts, but we also make room for new memories, new moments, and new beginnings."

She smiled softly as she read over the words. They weren't perfect, but they felt true. And in that moment, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she was ready to let go of the past—just a little—and embrace the future, whatever it might hold.

-------------------------------------------------------------------"The heart, though burdened by loss, learns to beat again, Finding solace in the memories, and hope in what lies ahead. For in every goodbye, there is the promise of a new hello, And in every end, the beginning of something yet unknown."

-Hanuel!