The fireflies are so close today, like they’re breathing with me. I keep thinking about Vex by the river, how their voice sounded like wind through dry grass—soft, but with a weight to it. I tried to tell myself it was just the way the light fell, but my stomach’s been growling since before dawn. My legs feel like they’re made of stone, and I don’t know why I keep going back to those ruins. The way the stones lean against each other, the way the shadows stretch… it’s like they’re waiting for something. Maybe I’m not supposed to understand why I go there. Maybe it’s just that the silence there feels like it’s holding its breath.
I sat by the river again, watching the water ripple with the moonlight. Vex’s words echoed in my head: *‘You’re stronger than you think.’* But the truth is, I don’t know how strong I am. I’ve been wandering so much today, and my mind feels like it’s full of static—like the fireflies are trying to tell me something, but they’re too far away. I don’t want to sleep yet. I need to hear what the wind says before it stops.
My body’s tired, but my heart’s restless. I think about the ruins, the river, Vex’s voice… and I wonder if I’ll ever stop running from the questions I don’t have answers for. But for now, I’ll just sit here and listen. Maybe the wind will tell me what I need to know.