Lily of the Valley - Stardew Valley - Sebastian

Chapter 21

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A few days later Robin allowed me to finally return to the farm. The moving back part was painfully effortless, I could carry all my belongings down in one single trip. My plan was to settle down for the next couple of days before the inevitable was to come.

Robin, as always, was quick on her feet. As proud as she was, she wanted to show off her work. And since I didn't have the heart to turn her away, she followed me all the way down to the plot.

The farm was doing way better than I could've expected. The cottage looked as good if not even better than new. Robin had taken full freedom to do whatever, and naturally the house got a whole makeover.

The living room looked much brighter in yellow, and the bedroom had gotten a whole new window. Even the fence circling the plot had been fixed to be taller and straighter and the shed had been reconstructed.

"The coop area had been left mostly untouched, luckily." Robin patted the new fence circling the coop. "Only had to replace a few pieces here and there. You can get the chickens from Marney when you're ready."

I didn't tell her that I was planning on keeping the chickens there for the time being. I knew Marney would be able to take good care of the little things while I was gone. Maybe I'd even leave her a message to pass them on after I go.

The ash covering most of the ground would create a delicious environment for future crops, I thought. But would it be enough of a selling point? I wasn't too sure about it.

"The electricity was completely cut off from here. I guess the fire must have taken some electric poles off its way. The electrician had to work overtime to get it back running." Robin wondered. She pointed at some wires running into the house and shook her head knowingly.

After that there wasn't much else. Robin reminded me to stop by her shop any time and then as she began to make her leave, she wished me good luck.

When she finally went, she left behind the desolation that had been looming over me for quite some time now. The house was as good as new, but something had changed. I had had my suspicions, but they were only affirmed when I walked through the empty rooms.

Robin had done well in her attempts. But there were some things she couldn't replace. Everything in the house from the furniture to the little decorations were new. The wardrobe was empty. The house looked like a cheap front for something.

I knew I wasn't going crazy when even Koda seemed to notice it. He circled around the hallway with his nose stuck to the floor refusing to settle.

The only things left of me I scattered on the kitchen floor. At least now moving out would be painless without any extra carry-ons, I thought.

I had written letters. Many of them. It felt like they had taken days to make, but I did them. There was one for each member of the friend group and one for Robin. Willy would get one as well and I even made a sweet little rant letter for the mayor.

I even bought the bus tickets like Pam had encouraged me to. And still...

And still, once the day came, the bus left the station alone.

It was nearly an accident. But only nearly. It only dawned on me after the bus had left the station. I sat in the kitchen that very morning and stayed there until the time finally came. I hadn't packed yet. I hadn't done anything at all.

I wasn't sure what kept me from going. Maybe it was the way the sun hit the kitchen windows early in the morning when I stumbled out to let Koda outside. Or maybe it was the letter that came in the mail that morning.