Chapter 6
As the elevator's lights flickered back to life, Luna gently pulled away from Harry's embrace. Their faces were close, and Harry felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. Luna, seemingly unfazed by the situation, smiled at him.
"The elevator's moving again," Luna observed.
Harry released Luna, feeling awkward and flushed. He stammered, "Uh, thank you, Luna."
Luna responded with a warm, reassuring smile. "It's nothing, Harry. We all have moments of vulnerability. Besides, we got through it together."
Harry couldn't help but feel a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. Luna had witnessed him in a panicked state.
Luna, as if she could read Harry's thoughts, continued to speak in her calm and reassuring manner, "It's okay, Harry. We all have our fears. You don't have to be perfect and strong all the time."
Harry, still feeling a bit vulnerable, nodded in acknowledgment. Luna's words struck a chord with him, reminding him that it was okay to have moments of weakness.
Luna then shared a personal insight, "You know, Harry, I have my own fears too. But my dad always taught me that fear is a part of life. It's how we face it that matters."
Harry was curious about Luna's family, as in the office, she often spoke about her dad but rarely mentioned her mom. He asked, "And your mom?"
Luna's expression turned somber as she replied, "My mom passed away when I was very young, too young to remember her, actually."
Harry felt a pang of empathy, realizing that they both shared the pain of losing their mothers at a young age. It was a connection he hadn't expected to uncover with Luna.
Luna continued, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability, "I used to get scared easily when I was young. My classmates would sometimes play mean tricks on me. Once, a girl invited me to her house to play with other girls, but they ended up locking me in a closet."
Harry was stunned by Luna's revelation, his heart aching for the young girl who had endured such cruelty. He hadn't known this side of Luna before, and it made him see her in a different light, as someone who had faced her own struggles and fears.
Luna's story continued, "I was so scared and crying when my dad came to pick me up that evening. I even had a fever. My dad was furious when he found out what had happened."
Harry couldn't help but feel sympathetic towards the young Luna, who had endured such an ordeal. He asked, "What did the girl's mom say?"
Luna replied, "The girl's mom apologized, and later, the girls themselves apologized too. We even became friends."
Harry couldn't quite understand how Luna could be friends with people who had locked her in a closet, but Luna had a forgiving nature that he hadn't fully grasped before.
He said, somewhat amazed, "You're really forgiving, Luna."
Luna smiled softly, her gaze distant, "I didn't have many friends growing up, so whoever wanted to be my friend, I wanted to keep them close."
Harry couldn't help but relate to Luna's words. He had also grown up without many friends, often bullied by his cousin Dudley. In that moment, he realized that he and Luna had more in common than he had initially thought, and their shared experiences of loneliness and struggle brought them closer.
With the elevator maintenance finally completed, the doors opened, and both Harry and Luna stepped out into the hallway outside their office. Harry let out a relieved sigh, grateful to be out of the confined space.
Feeling a bit awkward after the emotional rollercoaster they had been through, Harry mumbled a quick "Goodbye" to Luna.
Luna smiled warmly and said, "Take care, Harry."
As they parted ways, Harry couldn't help but replay all the conversations he had had with Luna inside the elevator in his mind. It had been a day of unexpected revelations, shared vulnerabilities.