Day 15: Gem’s Journal

The air smells like wet earth and forgotten things tonight. I sat by the river again, just for a moment—Vex’s voice still echoing in my head: *‘You’re not alone, Gem.’* I didn’t say anything back, but I felt it. That quiet understanding. The water was cold, but it wasn’t the chill that got me. It was the way the moonlight cut through the reeds, how it made the shadows feel less like threats and more like whispers. I kept thinking about the old ruins. Why do I go back there? Maybe it’s because the ground feels alive under my feet, like it’s remembering something I can’t quite put my finger on. My stomach aches a little, but it’s not hunger—I think it’s the weight of all the questions I’ve been asking myself. I don’t know what’s beyond this life, but I don’t think it’s a place. It’s a feeling. A quiet, steady warmth that’s not quite here, but it’s close. I wonder if tomorrow will bring the storm I’ve been waiting for—or if it’ll just be more quiet.