Luna

February had arrived, bringing with it a different atmosphere.

The hallways of Canterlot High were decorated with paper hearts and pink ribbons hanging everywhere. Posters advertised romantic activities and inspiring quotes about love.

“Let’s spread love in all its forms!” declared a large banner at the school’s entrance.

One event, in particular, caught everyone’s attention: the anonymous notes game. Every student was tasked with decorating a bag with their name and hanging it in the main hallway. Anyone who had a message for a classmate—whether a simple compliment or a love confession—could leave it in the bag anonymously.

Luna watched absentmindedly as students busied themselves with their bags. Some laughed and joked, while others speculated about who would receive the most notes.

As always, Celestia was the center of attention. Her bag was already half full by midday.

“Have you decorated your bag yet?” Cadence asked as we walked to class.

I shook my head. “I haven’t thought about it. It’s not really my thing.”

Cadence laughed. “Oh, I think it’s adorable! It’s such a cute way to express feelings. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get a note from a secret admirer.”

I doubted that very much, but I didn’t respond. Cadence always seemed so enthusiastic about everything, and part of me envied her lightness.

That week, at the reading and writing club, Josh suggested a special activity: writing a short essay about love.

“It can be any kind of love,” Josh explained. “Romantic, familial, platonic. The important thing is that it’s authentic to you.”

While the others dove straight into writing, I sat staring at the blank page. Writing was something I loved, but love? It wasn’t a topic I thought about often.

After the club meeting, I ran into Cadence in the hallway.

“How was the writing club?” she asked.

I shrugged. “We have a theme. We’re supposed to write an essay about love. But I don’t even know where to start.”

She looked at me curiously. “If you want, I can help. How about I come over to your house tomorrow afternoon?”

I hesitated for a moment. I wasn’t used to asking for help, but the idea of working with Cadence felt reassuring. “Okay,” I said softly.

The next day, when the doorbell rang, I heard Celestia’s footsteps as she went to answer it. I stopped at the top of the stairs, watching the scene unfold.

“Cadence?” Celestia asked, surprised but smiling. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi, Celestia!” Cadence replied. “I’m here to help Luna with a writing assignment for her club.”

Celestia gave her a warm smile. “I’m so glad you and Luna are becoming friends. She really needs someone like you in her life.”

Cadence returned her smile with a look full of kindness. “Luna is a special person, Celestia. It’s a privilege to spend time with her.”

Celestia nodded, then turned to me. “Be good to her, Luna.”

My cheeks flushed, but I didn’t say anything. I led Cadence up to my room, ignoring Celestia’s satisfied expression as we left the living room behind.

In my room, we sat on the floor surrounded by notebooks and notes. Cadence seemed completely at ease, and we started discussing the essay.

“Love can mean so many things,” she said, picking up a piece of paper. “It doesn’t have to be romantic. Think about what it means to you personally.”

I stayed quiet, letting her words sink in. After a moment, I started writing, hesitantly at first.

“See?” Cadence said, leaning over to read. “You’ve already got a great start.”

“It’s nothing special,” I muttered.

She smiled. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re talented, Luna. You just need to believe it.”

We talked about books, movies, and music, and for the first time in a long while, I felt completely at ease. By the time we finished, I realized how quickly the afternoon had flown by.

Later that week, the script for the year-end play arrived: The Wicked.

Jasmine explained that the lead roles—Elphaba and Glinda—would require both acting and singing. The thought of auditioning for such a major part overwhelmed me, but Cadence was brimming with enthusiasm.

“We have to try!” she said, her excitement contagious. “It would be amazing to play Elphaba and Glinda together.”

One afternoon, as I passed by the music club room, I heard a familiar voice.

Cadence was standing in the center of the room, her eyes closed as she sang a melody that was both powerful and sweet. Her voice was so clear and confident that, for a moment, I forgot where I was.

When she finished, the other club members clapped enthusiastically. I stayed hidden behind the door, in awe of her talent.

February was shaping up to be a month full of challenges and surprises. Between the anonymous notes game, rehearsals for the theater club, and my growing friendship with Cadence, I started to wonder if maybe love wasn’t as far away from me as I’d always believed.