The sun was setting over Alfea, casting a warm orange glow across the campus. Flora stood by her window, staring out at the horizon. The last few days had been a blur of confusion, emotions, and memories she couldn't fully grasp. It had felt like she was trapped between two worlds—one that was her true self, and another where she was a small, innocent version of herself, wrapped in the safety of childhood. Now that the spell had been broken, she should have felt relief, but instead, she felt lost. She couldn't shake the lingering feelings of vulnerability that the spell had awakened in her. It was as if a part of her had been left behind, and she didn't know how to find her way back.*I should be happy... I should feel like myself again,* Flora thought, wrapping her arms around herself. *But I feel like something is missing.*There was a knock on the door, and before she could respond, Bloom entered the room with a warm, gentle smile. "Hey, Flora. Can we talk?"Flora turned, her face softening when she saw her friend. Bloom had always been a beacon of light, always full of optimism, and yet Flora had felt so disconnected from that light in the past few days. Now, standing before her, Bloom felt like a lifeline."Of course," Flora said quietly, moving away from the window and sitting down on her bed.Bloom sat next to her, her expression concerned but patient. "How are you feeling?"Flora hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "I don't know. It's hard to explain. I feel like I'm in two places at once. Part of me is glad the spell is over... but another part of me feels... weak. Small.""Flora," Bloom said softly, "you're not weak. What you went through wasn't your fault. The spell—whatever it was—made you feel small, but that's not who you are. You're strong. You've always been strong, even when you don't realize it."Flora looked down at her hands, fiddling with the sleeve of her shirt nervously. "I just... I've never felt so... vulnerable before. It's hard to explain. I've always been the one to take care of everyone else—to help others when they need it. But now... I feel like I need help. Like I can't take care of myself anymore."Bloom's heart ached as she listened to Flora's words. She reached out and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Flora, you've always been our source of strength, but you don't have to carry the weight of the world on your own. You don't have to be perfect all the time. You're allowed to need help too."Flora looked up at Bloom, her eyes searching for something—perhaps reassurance, perhaps understanding. "But what if I can't be the person I was? What if I'm not strong enough anymore?""You are still that person, Flora," Bloom said firmly. "You just need time to heal. It's okay to feel vulnerable. It's okay to let us help you, just like we've always helped each other."Flora felt a small lump form in her throat as Bloom's words settled in her heart. It was as if a small piece of the confusion and fear she'd been carrying started to dissolve. She wasn't alone in this—she had her friends, her family. And she didn't need to be perfect."I've always been afraid of feeling like this," Flora said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Afraid of being seen as weak or dependent. I'm supposed to be the one who's there for everyone else."Bloom smiled warmly. "You're not alone, Flora. You're not just a caretaker—you're part of this family. And we're all here for you. You've been there for all of us, and now it's our turn to be there for you."Flora nodded slowly, still processing Bloom's words. She felt a sense of relief, but there was still a lingering doubt that tugged at her heart. She had always been the calm, gentle one, the one who could soothe others with her words and actions. But now, she felt like a child who had been shaken from her place of comfort."I don't know if I can go back to being the way I was," Flora whispered. "What if I've changed forever?"Bloom gently squeezed her shoulder. "You've gone through something big, Flora. It's natural to feel uncertain. But I know you. And I know you'll find your way back. It's just going to take time."---**Healing with Friends**The days that followed were filled with small steps toward healing. Flora began to rejoin the group more fully, though she often found herself retreating inward, still unsure of her place in the world. The rest of the Winx Club and the Specialists were patient with her, offering their support without pushing her too hard. They understood that Flora needed space to work through her feelings, and they were willing to give her the time she needed.One afternoon, Helia approached Flora in the garden, where she was sitting quietly among the flowers. It had become a safe place for her, a place where she felt a little more like herself. He sat down beside her, his usual calm presence offering her a sense of stability."Hey, Flora," Helia said gently. "How are you doing today?"Flora smiled faintly, though her eyes still seemed distant. "I'm okay, I guess. Still a little unsure of things."Helia nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "I understand. But you know... you don't have to have all the answers right away. It's okay to not know how to feel."Flora looked at him, surprised by the depth of his words. Helia had always been a quiet, introspective person, but she hadn't realized how much he understood her struggle."I just don't want to be a burden," Flora admitted softly. "I don't want anyone to feel like they have to take care of me.""You're not a burden," Helia said firmly, his voice reassuring. "We care about you, Flora. You've always been there for us, and we want to be there for you. You're part of this team. You're part of our family. We don't see you as someone who needs to be fixed. We see you as a friend we love."Flora looked down at her hands, her heart swelling with warmth at his words. She didn't know how long it would take for her to feel completely herself again, but with Helia and the others by her side, she felt a little less afraid of the journey ahead."I don't know if I'm strong enough yet," she whispered, "but I want to try. I want to get back to the person I was.""You will," Helia said, his voice soft but confident. "And in the meantime, we'll be here, every step of the way."---**A Moment of Clarity**Later that evening, as the stars began to twinkle above the campus, Flora found herself standing by the edge of the lake, looking out over the calm waters. It was a quiet moment, one that allowed her to reflect on everything she had been through. Her mind drifted to the people she loved—her friends, her family. They had all been there for her, offering support and encouragement, even when she didn't feel like she deserved it.*Maybe I don't need to be perfect,* Flora thought, her heart settling a little. *Maybe it's okay to just be myself, even if that means feeling vulnerable sometimes.*As she stood there, lost in thought, she felt a gentle presence beside her. Bloom appeared, standing quietly next to Flora and gazing out at the lake."You okay?" Bloom asked softly.Flora smiled, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. "I think I'm starting to be."Bloom smiled back, her eyes shining with understanding. "We're all here for you, Flora. And no matter what, you'll always be part of this team. You don't have to carry everything on your own."Flora took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the moment fill her up. She wasn't sure what the future would hold or how long it would take for her to fully heal, but for the first time in days, she felt a sense of peace. She wasn't alone. She had her friends. She had her family.And that was enough.---
