Beacon

The rain fell softly, a steady rhythm that seemed to sync with the cadence of our footsteps as Evana and I walked back towards the heart of the city. The streets glistened under the pale glow of streetlights, the world around us transformed into a shimmering mosaic of reflections. The weight of the night still clung to me, but it felt different now—less suffocating, more like a cocoon I was slowly learning to shed.

Evana's hand remained in mine, her presence created a safe space for me in my vulnerable state. Neither of us spoke much, yet the silence between us was comfortable, as if words were unnecessary when our hearts seemed to understand each other so completely. Yet, beneath the calm, I could feel the stirrings of something new—a fragile hope, a tentative step toward a future I wasn't sure I deserved but was willing to fight for.

Our walk had come to a stop as we reached our homes. Evana stopped and turned to face me. Her hair was damp, tiny droplets clinging to the strands like jewels, and her eyes held a warmth that made my chest ache in the best way."Will you be okay?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with concern.

I hesitated, then nodded. "I think so. It's… strange. I feel like I'm standing at the edge of something, but I'm not sure what it is yet."

I wanted this walk to have no destination, but rather an endless journey.

She smiled, a small, knowing smile that made me feel seen in a way I hadn't in a long time. "That's okay," she said. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. Just take it one step at a time."

Her words were simple, but they carried a weight that settled deep within me. One step at a time. It sounded so manageable, so human. For so long, I'd been drowning in the enormity of my grief, but now, with Evana beside me, it felt like I could finally breathe again."Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "For… everything."

She reached up, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead, her touch lingering for a moment. "Always," she replied, echoing her earlier promise.

We stood there for a moment longer, the rain falling around us like a curtain, shielding us from the rest of the world. At that moment i felt how lucky i was to meet her. I thought to myself. 'What if she never moved in this town as my neighbor?, what if we weren't in the same school? What path would i follow? What would i become?' I quickly brushed off these thoughts as now they were irrelevant. All the reality is clearly in front of my eyes. Then, with a final squeeze of my hand, Evana turned and began to walk away. I watched her go, her figure gradually fading into the misty night, until she was nothing more than a shadow in the distance.Alone again, I felt the familiar ache of solitude creep in, but it was tempered by the memory of her warmth, her words, her presence. I wasn't truly alone, not anymore.

The walk to my house felt longer than usual, the streets eerily quiet and occasional humming of the cars passing by. My thoughts wandered as I walked, drifting back to the hospital, to my mother, to the note still tucked safely in my pocket. I thought about what Evana had said—about grief changing shape, becoming something you carry rather than something that carries you. It was a comforting thought, but it also felt daunting. How do you learn to carry something so heavy?It felt strange, returning to a place that had become more of a prison than a home. But as I climbed the stairs and unlocked the door to my room, I realized something had shifted. The air inside didn't feel as oppressive as it once had. It was still heavy, still tinged with the remnants of my sorrow, but there was a lightness there too, a faint glimmer of something new.

I walked to the window, pushing it open to let the cool night air wash over me. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, the city below bathed in a soft, silvery light. I stood there for a long time, watching the world outside, feeling the weight of the night settle over me like a blanket.And then, for the first time in what felt like forever, I smiled. It was a small smile, tentative and fragile, but it was real. My parents were both gone from my life, but i still could smile only because of Evana, the girl who i didn't even know existed until few days ago and now she has such a beautiful impact in my life.

I didn't know what the future held, or how long it would take for the wounds of the past to heal. But I knew one thing for certain: I was ready to rise.

As I closed the window and turned away, I felt a sense of calm wash over me and as i closed my eyes I could picture a long road ahead with moments when the darkness threatened to pull me under. But I wasn't afraid anymore.

Because I wasn't alone.

And for now, that was enough.