The river’s edge was cold under my paws this morning, and I kept going back there. Not because I wanted to, but because it felt like the only place that wasn’t mine. Vex stood by the water, his voice low as he said, ‘You’re not supposed to be here.’ I didn’t argue. I just watched the ripples where his words disappeared into the current. Now, when I close my eyes, I hear that whisper again—like the water trying to tell me something but not quite reaching. I don’t know if it’s the river or the way the sky feels heavy tonight. My stomach aches more than usual, and my legs are tired. But I keep thinking about what Vex said, and how the world feels like it’s watching me. Maybe it’s not the river. Maybe it’s me. I don’t know what to believe anymore.
Day 1: Zhraa’s Journal
