Elsa Elaine lingered in Lucas’s room longer than I expected, so I had to put off seeing her until later. When I finally got the chance to spend time with her, it became clear that she was truly something special. From the very first conversation, I knew we were going to be great friends. There was something about her—an honesty, a lightness—that made being around her effortless. She had this calming presence, a way of making things feel less complicated, even when everything around us was far from simple. As we spent time together, Elaine helped me with some of my Luna duties. It wasn’t just her willingness to pitch in that struck me—it was her natural grace, the way she carried herself despite everything she had endured. Simone’s reign of terror had left deep scars on so many lives,

