Coffee and Spice | Harvey | Stardew Valley

-1-

My eyes close as a strong breeze lifts my hair and the scents of the night wash over me: the balmy waves that crash around my feet, the swaying pine trees bordering the shoreline, and, the most enticing of all, the delicious smell of food from the stalls that line the dock.

I'd made short visits to Stardew Valley over the years to visit my grandfather before he'd gotten sick. Something about the remote and charming rural town had immediately captured my heart. So when my grandfather's farm was passed down to me after he'd succumbed to his sickness in the fall, it seemed almost too good to be true.

As devastated as I had been about losing my grandfather, getting to leave behind the fast-paced city life and my dreaded nine-to-five career felt like getting a second chance. Never again would I have to drag myself to the office, drowning in cups of coffee and a constant feeling of discontent. This could be the new beginning I had always longed for.

When I had first arrived at the neglected farm, I'd made the decision to pour my grief into something tangible: manual labor. I quickly came to learn that when I put all my time into clearing out overgrown weeds and cutting down endless trees, I barely had enough energy to make it to bed each night let alone dwell on the loss of my grandfather. Not to mention, each day of hard work felt like a dedication to his years of nurturing the large plot of land that I now call my own.

After nearly a month of this routine, my body was crying out for a break. Earlier that day, as I had been passing by the local doctor's office on the way to the general store in town, my attention had been drawn to a colorful flier posted on the community bulletin board. It was advertising something called the Night Market, an annual festival that hosted all kinds of attractions and vendors between 5pm to 2am. And tonight was my last chance to see what it had to offer.

I had stared at the flier for a few moments, debating on whether or not it would be worth it to go. I was so used to falling asleep early that I wasn't sure if I'd even be able to stay awake. But I hadn't done any socializing with the townsfolk since my arrival besides a quick greeting here or there. It might be nice to get a feel for some of the residents.

Since it was already late in the afternoon, I'd headed home and showered the grime of the day off. I dressed in dark jeans and a long-sleeved blouse with ruffled edges. Although the winter had been pretty mild so far, a sharp chill had settled over the valley in the last few days. I pulled on a soft, cream-colored sweater made out of wool just in case.

Now I was glad that I did. I draw my arms around myself as another gust of wind blows in from the ocean, sending goosebumps down my body. I had meant to head straight for the market, but the beauty of the water was magnified by the light of the stars and couldn't be ignored.

"It's a bit nippy out tonight, huh?"

I turn to see a girl sidling up beside me in the sand. She looks to be around my age, with a shock of blue hair and a kind smile that makes me instantly like her.

"Very," I agree and we both laugh as another breeze whistles past, causing us to stagger slightly. "I think it's getting worse."

"Yeah, the later it gets, the more the cold starts to set in." She pushes her spiky hair back with one hand and glances at her watch. "It's just past midnight. They're giving out free coffee and tea outside of Willy's, do you want to get some together?"

"Yeah, sure," I say, trying to sound casual. In truth, I was pleasantly surprised by this turn of events. I thought making a friend was going to be a lot harder with my lack of socialization skills, but it seems like luck is on my side. A twinge of hopefulness blossoms inside my chest.

"I'm Emily, by the way," she calls over her shoulder as I trail behind her in the sand. "You're Caira, right? The new farmer?"

"Yep, that's me."