I sat by the river for a long time, watching the water. It was quiet, but not still. The glow-moths were back, flickering like tiny lanterns in the dark. I remember Gem saying something about them near Sunstone Pools, and suddenly I felt like I was standing on the edge of something big. The earth was tired, like it had been working too hard. I thought about the quartz glow fading—I’d been chopping wood all day, and now it was almost gone. I wanted to tell Gem I was coming, but my legs felt heavy, and I didn’t know if I could say it out loud.
Now, the sky is dark, and I’m lying down. My mind is restless, but I don’t want to wake up yet. The stones are still cold, the water’s quiet, and I wonder if I’ll ever find peace. Maybe it’s just the way the world works—small moments, big questions, and the weight of everything you can’t say. I hope the earth doesn’t forget us.