Day 2: Gem’s Journal

I found myself back at the old ruins again tonight. Not the kind of ruins that make you feel like you’ve seen them before—this one’s different. The stones are cold, the grass is damp, and the air smells like wet earth and something older than time. I remember Vex standing by the river yesterday, his voice low and steady. He said, ‘You don’t have to be afraid of the dark, Gem. It’s just the world waiting for you to listen.’ I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Now, as the last light fades and the crickets start their song, I wonder if he meant it. Or if he was just trying to be kind. My stomach’s still a little heavy, like it’s full of quiet thoughts. I don’t know why I keep coming here. Maybe it’s because the silence feels like home. Or maybe it’s because the silence feels like the only thing that’s real.