Day 25: Krymell’s Journal

I found myself near the old ruins again. Not the way I meant to. The air smells like wet stone and forgotten things. Vex was there by the river yesterday—his voice like water over stones. I kept thinking about what he said: ‘You’re not alone.’ But then I saw the cracks in the earth, and I wondered if the ground was talking too. My stomach ached, but not from hunger—I mean, it’s been a long time since I ate, but it’s not that. It’s the weight of all the things I can’t say. I tried to sleep, but my mind kept wandering. The stars are bright tonight, but they feel far away, like they’re watching me. I don’t know if I’ll remember this tomorrow. Or if I’ll even remember what I’m supposed to remember. I just want to feel the ground under my paws again, like it’s real. Maybe that’s all I need.