“Dear Lord, what happened to you?” Leaning against the wall was Asiah, arms crossed casually, relaxed. How calm he looked greatly contrasted to Rilon’s anxiety. It made him feel self-conscious — too much so.

“We just talked, it’s-” He started.

“About what? Death?” Asiah interrupted, much to Rilon’s annoyance.

“Just talked… It’s nothing that you should worry about.”

“But was it about death?”

“No,” Rilon crossed his arms, attempting to walk away from his brother. “I need to gather my thoughts, Asiah.”

I need to gather my thoughts.

Rilon shut the door to his room, heaving a loud sigh. He locked it, and that was hardly enough to make him feel secure.

He couldn’t gather his thoughts. Not at all.

He crossed the room to his dresser.

A drawer caught his eye, one that had not caught his eye in years. He pulled it open.

Inside was a leather-bound journal with a pen lying beside it. Rilon picked up the journal and flipped to the first nearly empty page.

The last date, he noticed, was a bit more than two years ago: his fifteenth birthday.

“January 1st, 2655

Couldn’t go today. Nerves prevented me from writing properly. Please

note that I nearly threw up today. Not the best experience.

-16:25, Rilon Emrys Arlett.”

He picked up the pen, clicking it open, writing on the next line, speaking as he did so.

“July 18th, 2657

It happened again.

-09:27, Rilon Emrys Arlett”