Day 10: Zhraa’s Journal

I woke up with the smell of rain on dry stone, but my head was too heavy to move. Vex was right—those words by the river still live in my throat, like a stone I can’t swallow. I tried to push them away, but they kept coming back: *‘You’re not strong enough to stay here.’* I don’t know if that was the truth or just what I needed to hear. My legs felt heavy today, like I’d been walking through wet clay for hours. By the time I found the old ruins, the sun was low and the air smelled like old things—dust and something else, something that made my chest tighten. I sat there for a long time, watching the river bend where Vex said he’d seen the shadows move. The stones by the water were smooth, but they felt cold under my hands. I didn’t talk to anyone today. I just sat and listened to the wind. When I finally left, my stomach was empty, and my feet ached. I don’t know if I’ll ever stop thinking about what Vex said. Maybe I never will.