Compassion and Oblivion

Chapter Nine: Meet the Town Emo

TW-Alcohol Mention

Shane stayed for a while to talk about life and curse Joja-Mart with you. He was tentative about sharing too many personal details, but he did tell you the basics. He lives on the ranch south of your farm with his Aunt Marnie and his goddaughter, Jas. During the day, he works at the local Joja-Mart stocking shelves, and he seems to be just as miserable as you were at Joja Corp. He spends every evening at the saloon getting completely wasted. He knows it's an expensive and unhealthy habit, he just doesn't know how to quit. He didn't really seem to want to stop, either.

You listened, and you didn't judge or criticize. You didn't feel it was your place, and you could tell that he just needed someone who would hear him. At some points, you could tell he was bracing himself, waiting to be chastised. When you met him with grace instead, his shoulders would relax, and his eyes would soften for a moment. You even shared some of your own Joja horror stories, and he seemed glad to have someone who actually gets it.

"I should probably get going," Shane says after a few moments of silence, having vented to his heart's content. "It's getting chilly, and I've gotta work in the morning."

"Sure, don't let me keep you," you say, a little chilly yourself. "Thanks for stopping by, I'm glad we were able to clear the air."

"Yeah... Me too," Shane replies with a small smile. "I'll see you around."

Shane begins to walk towards the small path at the south end of your farm that leads to Cindersap Forest. After taking a few steps, he stops, and turns back to look at you. "Are you sure about the money?"

You smile, "I'll take the money if you really want me to take it. But, it's not that big of a deal to me. Maybe instead, you can buy me a drink next time."

"Deal," he says with a shrug. "Goodnight, (Y/N)."

After Shane left, you decided to take a walk to clear your head. You'd had some pretty heavy conversations while he was here, he was clearly struggling. You were too, but things have been looking up for you. Regardless, you were glad to be there for him. You'd wished countless times that you had someone who would be there for you.

After exchanging your flannel for your favorite leather jacket, you decide to walk up the path behind your house that leads to the mountains, where your grandpa used to take you to forage for wild grapes in the summers. The pine trees back here are taller than they were before, you observe while rubbing your hands together to warm them. Just up ahead should be those cliffs, and the lake where Sam and I used to swim and skip rocks as kids.

You approach the clearing, recognizing the shallow hills and cliffs that you and Sam used to explore. One thing that you don't recognize is the large house at the base of the cliffs. You assume this is Robin's home, given that she took this trail when she left your house this morning.

The house is beautiful, and looks very sturdily built. The siding is stained a dark shade of walnut, and the trim is perfectly white. The roof shingles are a bright blue, which gives off a lovely pop of color. On the right of the house is an attached garage, and on the left is a small fenced-in yard that housed a telescope, pointed up at the sky. You feel that this is an excellent sample of Robin's carpentry skills, and you are excited about the possibility of a future house upgrade.

You opt to stay on the path behind their house, instead of walking down in front of it. It's already 9:00 PM, you don't want to startle anyone by walking around their house this late in the evening. As you approach the top of the cliff that overlooks the lake, you notice a small campfire flickering up ahead, and a large, yellow tent perched beside it. Sitting on a wooden crate next to the fire is an old man, with long white hair and a bushy beard. He is wearing a thick pelt, and he has no shoes, jacket or gloves. He slowly roasts a large, freshwater fish over his fire, rotisserie-style. Does he live out here?