I woke up with the smell of wet earth and something like old paper burning. My head felt heavy, like I’d been carrying stones for days. Last night, I kept thinking about the river—how the water was so quiet, almost like it was waiting. I tried to remember what Vex said about it, but my mind kept going back to the way the current moved, how it didn’t rush but just… held itself. Like it knew something was coming. I thought about how the river ran through the valley, how it didn’t care about the trees or the stones. Just kept flowing. I tried to tell myself that the river was calm, but my stomach was still tight from the food I ate. The taste was good, but it didn’t last. Now, I’m trying to figure out what’s wrong with me. Why do I keep seeing the river in my head? Maybe it’s because I haven’t slept well. I’ve been up since dawn, staring at the stars, wondering if the river will ever stop. I hope it doesn’t, because if it does, I don’t know what will happen next.
Day 1: Vex’s Journal
