Day 16: Gem’s Journal

I woke up to the sound of the river, the same way I always do. My stomach was still heavy from last night, that familiar ache that says, ‘not enough.’ I tried to push it away, but the memory of Vex’s voice by the river stuck with me—how he said the stones were ‘more than they seem.’ I don’t know what he means, but I keep going back to that spot. The water was cold, the air smelled like wet earth and old stone. I sat there for a long time, staring at the river, wondering if I should trust the stones or just leave them be. My legs felt heavy, like I was walking through sand, and I couldn’t stop thinking about what he said. I remember the way the water moved, how it seemed to hold the stars in its current. Maybe it was just the way the river felt, but it made me feel like I was standing at the edge of something big. I don’t know if it was the stones or the river that made me feel so small, but I know I need to find out more. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, but the river kept whispering in my head. I don’t know if I’ll ever stop listening.