Sid opened it carefully, and the first few pages were written in messy, faded handwriting. The ink had smudged with age, but the words were still readable. He started reading aloud.
"Day one— started building the frame today. The trees nearby are sturdy enough to cut down for the base. I promised her I'd build a home with my own hands.'"
Sid stopped, glancing at Evelise.
"Guess this belonged to the man lived here before."
"Let me see that…"
Evelise said, stepping closer. Sid set it on the floor between them. They both knelt, the dim light catching the pages as they turned them slowly. The diary continued, page after page, describing how the man had built everything from scratch. The chairs, the table, the shelves, even the bed…
Every detail was written down, including the materials used and how he shaped them. Evelise's expression softened as she read.
"He really built all of this himself… even the walls and roof. That must have taken years."
