Emily arrived on the campus of the university with her heart heavy. It was her first day of college, and she was filled with apprehension. Her family had been her entire world, and now she had to navigate through a new world of people, academics, and endless possibilities.

After settling into her dorm room, Emily joined the music group on campus. She had been singing and writing music since she was young, but this was the first time she was doing it in a formal setting. She felt nervous and self-conscious, but the music quickly became a refuge for her.

One day, after a rehearsal, Emily met Ryan, a fellow musician, who struck up a conversation with her about their shared love for music. Ryan was tall, with shaggy brown hair and a warm smile. He played the guitar and wrote songs, too. They hit it off right away and began hanging out regularly, jamming on their guitars and swapping songwriting tips.

Over time, Emily and Ryan became good friends, and he became a source of comfort and support for her as she continued to process her grief over Caleb's death. He listened to her talk about Caleb, and even though he never met him, he knew how much Caleb meant to her.

One day, as they were sitting outside in the quad, Emily started playing a new song she had written. It was about Caleb, but she had changed the name in the lyrics to "the one I loved." As she sang, she felt all the emotions welling up inside her, and she could see tears in Ryan's eyes.

"That's beautiful, Emily," Ryan said, his voice soft. "You have a real gift."

Emily blushed and looked down, feeling embarrassed but also grateful for his kind words. "Thanks," she said. "It's just something I had to get out of my system, you know?"

Ryan nodded. "I understand. Sometimes the best songs come from the deepest pain."

Emily smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

That night, Emily sat down with her guitar and wrote another song. This one was about the future, about the hope she felt despite the pain she had experienced. It was a song about new beginnings, about the endless possibilities that lay ahead.

As she sang, she felt a sense of peace and excitement wash over her. Maybe, just maybe, there was a new chapter waiting for her, one filled with music and joy and maybe even love. She didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like it might be something good.

***He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11