Day 7: Zhraa’s Journal

I found myself back at the river’s edge this morning, the same spot where Vex stood with his hands in his pockets, whispering about the stars. I didn’t want to ask him why he left, but my stomach growled louder than the rain. The water was cold, but I didn’t move. I just sat there, watching how the light turned the river into liquid silver. My legs felt heavy, like they were made of wet stone. I thought about what he said—how the world wasn’t what you saw, but what you felt beneath the surface. That night, I kept hearing his voice, not in words but in the way the wind shifted. It wasn’t a warning, not really. It was a reminder: some things are better left unsaid. I don’t know if I’ll ever understand what he meant, but for now, I’m tired. I’m so tired my thoughts feel like they’re sinking into the river. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll go back. Maybe I’ll stay here. But right now, the only thing that matters is that I’m not alone.