Day 8: Gem’s Journal

The rain stopped just as I finished my last thought about Vex. Now the world is quiet, but my mind feels too loud. I sat by the river again today—same spot where Vex told me to ‘watch the water.’ His voice was quiet, like a leaf drifting down. I don’t know what he meant, but I kept walking, even though my legs were heavy. I think about how the river changes direction, how the water moves so fast sometimes and then slows down. I wonder if Vex is watching too. Maybe he’s at the old ruins now. Or maybe he’s gone. I don’t want to go back there, but I keep finding myself there. The rain felt like a blanket on my skin, and when it stopped, the air smelled like wet earth and something else—like the memory of fire. I don’t know what that means. My stomach ached, but I didn’t eat much. I just sat and watched the clouds. Now it’s late, and I’m tired. I hope I can sleep without dreaming of Vex’s voice.