The Light Beyond
Luna stood at the edge of the Black Lake, the cool autumn breeze sweeping through her blonde hair. The water rippled gently, reflecting the pale morning sky. It was quiet here, peaceful, a moment untouched by the noise of the world.
For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t drowning in her thoughts.
She was simply existing.
--
Some days were easier than others.
There were mornings when she ate breakfast with her friends, engaging in conversation, laughing at Ginny’s jokes, and letting herself enjoy the warmth of a full stomach.
And then there were mornings when she sat in the Great Hall, staring at her plate, feeling as though the simple act of eating was an impossible feat.
But now, she understood something important—one bad day did not erase the progress she had made.
She had slipped before, fallen back into old patterns, but she had also pulled herself out.
And that mattered.
That was everything.
--
One of the hardest lessons Luna had learned was that she couldn’t do this alone.
For so long, she had believed that struggling in silence was bravery. That keeping her pain hidden was proof of strength.
But she had been wrong.
Strength was opening up to Hermione, even when her voice shook.
Strength was letting Ginny hold her when the weight of it all felt unbearable.
Strength was telling Madam Pomfrey the truth, even when she wanted to lie.
Strength was realizing that she didn’t have to carry this alone.
And she never would again.
--
She still had moments of doubt, of fear, of that lingering voice whispering that she wasn’t enough.
But now, she had something stronger—hope.
Hope that she would continue to heal.
Hope that she would learn to love herself again.
Hope that, no matter what, she would always have people who cared about her.
As she turned away from the lake, making her way back toward the castle, she felt lighter.
She wasn’t completely healed.
She wasn’t fixed.
But she was alive.
And for the first time in a long time, that was more than enough.
__
The End.