"I might be moving."
Haru said anxiously. Her father's job transfer.
"Scared?" Simon asked.
"Yeah. Of the environment changing."
Mio was listening quietly. She had also changed schools many times in the past.
"Fear of change is natural," Simon said. "Biologically programmed."
"Programmed?"
"The instinct to prefer stability. Our ancestors had higher survival rates in predictable environments."
Haru understood. "That's why change is scary."
"But there's a contradiction," Simon pointed out. "Change is also natural."
"What do you mean?"
"Everything changes. Heraclitus said, 'You cannot step into the same river twice.'"
Haru thought. "Because the river keeps flowing?"
"Yes. And the person stepping in has also changed."
Mio nodded slightly.
"So change is unavoidable?" Haru asked.
"Unavoidable," Simon stated. "The problem isn't change itself, but attitude toward change."
"Attitude?"
"Whether to resist or accept."
Haru voiced her anxiety. "Even if I want to accept, it's scary."
"Fear is also natural," Simon acknowledged. "But fear and action are separate."
Mio wrote in her notebook. "Move forward in fear."
Simon read and nodded. "Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's moving forward despite fear."
Haru looked at Mio. "Were you scared of transferring?"
Mio was silent for a long time. Then nodded slightly.
"But you got used to it?"
Mio wrote. "Adjustment and acceptance are different."
"Different?"
Simon interpreted. "Adjustment is dulling of sensation. Acceptance is understanding and integration."
"Deep," Haru was impressed.
"Change has stages," Simon explained. "Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance."
"Kübler-Ross stages?"
"Yes. Originally for death acceptance, but applies to all change."
Haru asked. "What stage am I at now?"
"Probably between denial and bargaining."
"Is acceptance far?"
"Takes time. But you'll definitely reach it."
Mio wrote again. "Change is also loss."
Simon nodded. "Sharp. Change isn't just gaining something. It's also losing something."
Haru understood. "Losing current friends, school, familiar places."
"Grieving that is legitimate."
"But," Haru searched for hope. "I also gain new things?"
"Yes. Change is a door to possibility," Simon said.
Mio wrote. "Doors are scary. Can't see the other side."
"Exactly," Simon agreed. "Uncertainty is the source of fear."
Haru took a deep breath. "So how do I stop being scared?"
"You won't stop being scared," Simon said honestly. "But you can coexist with fear."
"How?"
"Divide change into small parts. Not all at once, but step by step."
Mio nodded.
"And," Simon added. "Remember past changes. You've overcome changes before."
Haru thought. "Elementary to middle school, middle to high school."
"Yes. You might have been anxious each time. But you're here now."
Haru felt a bit relieved. "I've survived."
"More than that. You've grown."
Mio wrote. "Change is another name for growth."
Simon smiled. "Mio's words always hit the essence."
Haru asked. "Can I enjoy change?"
"Enjoying might be difficult," Simon admitted. "But you can find meaning."
"Meaning?"
"Through change, you know yourself. Discover adaptability."
Mio wrote lastly. "Change is a mirror."
"Mirror?"
Simon interpreted. "In change, you see your true self."
Haru looked out the window. The outside scenery also changes with seasons. But that's natural.
"Change is scary," Haru admitted. "But also natural."
"Accepting both is maturity," Simon said.
Mio stood up. Placed her hand on Haru's shoulder. Warm.
"Having someone to be scared with makes it a bit easier," Haru smiled.
Simon nodded. "Change that isn't lonely is bearable."
Mio said quietly. "It's okay."
Those two words calmed Haru.
Change is scary. But natural. And not alone.
The three quietly looked out the window. The world continues changing today too.
That's what it means to be alive.