I arrive home and of course, nobody else is here.

“I’m home.”

I walk to the kitchen and start making dinner. After walking that much in the forest, my stomach is practically begging for me to eat something. It keeps growling until I satisfy it with some macaroni and cheese.

My stomach satisfied, I head to my room and close the door. I take the books out from my bag and place them onto my desk. The books vary in color and size as I look at them as they sit on my desk. I specifically chose English books so that I can get through the books as fast possible.

Not knowing how I can organize the books, I randomly pick one and start to read. It is called ‘Forest Curiosities’. I look at the name with contempt, it is not coincidence that this book was in the library of a house that has a portal leading to a forest.

I open the book and realize that it is a journal, accounting the trips of a Kirstin Ealasaid. Her handwriting is a bit sloppy, but what can I expect. It was probably written in the late 1800s as the writing is in faded ink. Her story is quite interesting as she started off basically the same way I did.

The book starts off like a regular journal or diary. She starts writing by explaining that she is with her family, settling the plains of the West. They decided to settle the area where I live now. Interesting, I’m reading a journal of one of the first settlers of the area! She goes on to explain that while settling the area with her family and some others, she came across the stone house by herself.

Kirstin was very wary of the house at first as stone was very rare around there. She tried telling people about it at first, but they blew her off as they thought she was merely looking at a mirage. Trusting her family and friends, she decided to believe them and go on with her life. More information on the house seems to stall for a while as she works with her family on building the town that I now live in.

This continues for a few months until she goes for a walk. While Kirstin is on her walk she notes that she sees the house again. Getting curious this time, she walks to the house. She arrives and notes that the house looks fairly new, with the trees being well kept and the house well organized. Not knowing if the house is occupied or not, Kirstin leaves the house alone.

Reading this, I hear my parents arriving home but this time not arguing at all. I am good to not hear anything this time, I hate it when they argue. I don’t really communicate with them anymore these days, even though I care for them. The knowledge that they are home, I check the time, it is 9:07. I need to go to bed to fully rest for tomorrow.