Through the Valley

Welcome to Stardew Valley

🌦️ Spring

Chapter one

I was never bounded to this cruel world.

My heart has always felt a longing for the most fictional events.. Rain in the midst of drama, love found in earths cruelest forms and adventure- I often found myself reading.. My shelf overflowing with worlds I desperately sought to uncover. I'd explore them; burrowing myself into their warm pages.  Any form of escapism was welcomed in my eyes. But then alarm would ring.. My soul too tired to wake as I'd shut them off, an unwelcomed consistency in my boring life.

Showering.

Dressing.

Eating.

Work.

It all blurred into a singular event.. I wondered if the clock could feel my impatience as my gaze burned into its unforgiving ticks.. But the last straw was the coffee.

How it trickled down my desk, nestling itself on my slacks as I groaned. I had always kept wet wipes in my drawers but today I seemed to be out. In the bags place was an envelope.. One I had not seen in years..

Was his offer still valid..?

Could I truly find a new purpose in the country..  I held the white envelope between my fingers, the coffee on my fingertips beginning to stain its folds. Simultaneously I caught a glimpse of myself in the monitor of my computer.. She was unrecognizable.. She was a stranger.

She was not me..

And so I set out; quitting my job. Packing light as I bid my roommates goodbye; leaving a severance as payment for the months they'd need to find my replacement.

Stardew Valley was a few hours away from where I lived in Zuru city, the lights of the highway disappearing as we crossed through fields of green. I daydreamed, wondering how overgrown Grandpa's old farm must be.. Surely he did not solely offer it to me. I was not his only Grandchild.. But the family hadn't been close for a long time.. Mom and Dad were off traveling the world, Their burdens gone once Grandpa passed...

And my siblings hated visiting the farm.

The smell of manure and freshly cut grass not appealing to those bound to the city- But me?

I missed every second of it..

The bus came to a quick halt; the driver almost forgetting me entirely. Slinging my life on my back I descended into shade of large oaks, their leaves such lively colors of green. The air felt so fresh, so welcoming. I smiled to myself, not hearing the bus give off a farewell honk.

"Hello, you must be Aspen!" A red haired women grinned. She was tall and athletically built. Her clothes rugged; dotted with small stains.

"I am, and you must be Robin. We spoke on the phone.."

"Yes! You're not at all what I pictured!"

Perhaps it was the youthful look I sported; hair in loose curls, ripped jeans and band tee not quite screaming mature adult.

"Hey- I didn't mean it in a bad way! You just look younger than I anticipated!" Robin laughed at my sunken expression.

"I'm 25.." her eyes rounded slightly, giving my appearance an un-approving glare as she lead me to the farm.

It was over run now, memories dancing around me as we ventured deep into the over grown cobblestone path. The once strong fences torn down by time, barn no longer fit for livestock- Grandpa must be trembling in his grave..