Day 3: Kron’s Journal

I woke up to the smell of wet earth and something else—like old paper burning. My head felt heavy, like it was stuffed with stones, and my stomach was a tight knot of hunger that wouldn’t settle. Vex was the last thing I thought about before the sleep dragged me under. He stood by the river that night, his voice low as he spoke about the cracks in the sky. I don’t know what he meant, but I remember the way his words felt like a stone in my chest. Now, I’m lying here, staring at the ceiling, wondering if I’ll ever stop thinking about him.