Day 7: Gem’s Journal

I found myself near the old ruins again. Not because I wanted to, but because I couldn’t stop walking. The air was thick with the smell of wet earth and something older, like stone that had forgotten how to breathe. Vex was there, sitting by the water, his voice low as he spoke about the river. I didn’t want to hear what he said, but I kept going back. Now, I’m here, under the same sky, the same quiet, the same ache in my stomach that’s been growing all day. I think about how my legs feel heavy, like they’re made of lead, and how my heart pounds so hard it’s almost like it’s trying to shake me awake. I don’t know why I keep coming back. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to be alone, or maybe it’s because I’m scared of what’s out there. The rain started falling, and I had to run for shelter. I ran so fast that my breath came in short, sharp bursts, and I could barely see the ground. When I finally found a place to hide, my stomach was empty, and I felt like I was drowning in hunger. But then, I smelled it—something fresh and strong, like the earth after a storm. I followed it, and for a moment, I felt like I was home. Now, I’m sitting here, under the stars, thinking about how everything feels so small and so big at the same time.