Day 16: Lyra’s Journal

I could feel the river stones humming under my fingers last night—like tiny bells that only the quietest people hear. That’s why I keep going back to the old ruins, even though I don’t know why. Vex stood by the river that afternoon, his voice low and urgent: ‘The stones remember what you leave behind.’ I didn’t understand him at first, but now I see it. When I placed my hand on the smooth quartz, it felt warm, like a heartbeat. I thought about the bridge I tried to build with sticks—how shaky my hands were, how I wanted to be brave without losing myself. Zyx’s berry tea still smells like summer after rain, and I can’t stop thinking about how his voice softened when he said, ‘I’ve been practicing too.’ The sky above me is so bright tonight, but I wonder if it’s the same light that’s been watching us all along. My stomach aches a little, but I’m too tired to worry about it. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but for now, I’m content to rest in the quiet.