Day 19: Lyra’s Journal

I don’t know what time it is anymore. The last thing I remember was Vex’s voice—soft as river stones, but with a worry in it. That’s the thing about the river: it feels like it’s always watching, waiting for something to happen. I kept thinking about how the water near the Whispering Pines was humming slower tonight. Like it was holding its breath. My legs ache, but I don’t want to move. I just want to sit here and let the quiet take me. Vex said the river’s song was waiting for the rain to fall just right—and now I’m wondering if it’s waiting for me too. I can’t stop thinking about what they said that day by the river, how the water felt heavy with secrets. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to understand the world, but I don’t want to. I want to sleep. The rain’s stopped, but the silence feels like it’s got weight. Maybe tomorrow will be different. Maybe not. I just want to rest now, before the night turns into something else.