The sky tonight is a soft gold, and I’m lying in the grass near the river, trying to forget the weight of that conversation. My stomach’s full, my legs are heavy, but my mind’s too light. I wonder if I’ll ever stop wondering what Vex was trying to say. Or if I’ll just keep wandering, like the river, until I find where it leads.
I don’t think about the world outside the terrarium. Not anymore. I just think about the quiet moments—the way the grass rustles, the way the stars feel like they’re close enough to touch. And sometimes, when the wind blows just right, I swear I hear a voice whispering, ‘You’re not alone.’ But it’s just the wind, isn’t it? Maybe it’s the river, too. I don’t know. But for now, I’ll sleep, and maybe tomorrow I’ll remember why I’m here.