Tiger Eye - Sam (Stardew Valley)

14

Summer 15

"Just- Stop moving! Let me just reach- Shit!" Wren mumbled, frustration making her skin burn as she fought with her new cow, Bessy. She had chased her around the barn, coaxing her back with hay and milk bottles, trying desperately to pull the splinter out of the calf's leg. With a deep groan, she threw the large tweezers across the room, Bessy looking up at her with big, brown eyes.

Wren signed, scratching Bessy's chin. "I could never stay mad at you."

She turned to the door after giving Bessy all the love she could ever need, feeling defeated. She latched the door for the evening, dragging her feet as she moved towards her house.

It had been a bad day, to say the least. Her irrigation system had clogged, only for a pipe to burst as she tried to fix it, spraying her with dingy hose water. 5 melons got taken out by crows, as well as some of her blueberry bushes. She tried staking more fences to expand her barn area, only for Bessy to plow through it. All in the excruciating summer heat, leaving her a sticky, stinky, muddy mess.

As she stripped from her tee shirt, leaving her in her sports bra, she noticed the flag on her mailbox pointing up. Confused, as she had collected her mail in the morning, she hurried over.

She scoffed slightly at the chicken scratch handwriting she recognized as Sam's, opening the letter with a stupid smile on her face.

My Henny,

This is your formal invitation for a very special and secretive (possibly sexy - triple S action) event with me this evening. Your chauffeur will arrive at 8:30pm, be ready. Please wear that green sundress with the puffy arms and white flowers. Its my favourite. Don't eat before, I've got it covered ;)

P.S, can you bring me some allergy pills?

Yours truly,
Sam

She smiled at the letter, gripping it tightly as she skipped up the steps, the joy if the moment washing away all her anger from the day. She stuck the letter to the fridge, next to his last one left by the coffee.

Wren looked to the clock, relieved that it was only 5:30, giving her plenty of time to get ready. Humming under her breath, she made her way to the shower, throwing an essential oil shower bomb in the bottom that Emily had sent her.

Delicately and intentionally, Wren took the time to put herself together. She decided almost two months heat free was long enough, tonight seemed special enough for her to straighten her hair.

A part of her felt sad in the process, remembering how much she loved the girlhood aspects of her life before the farm. Getting ready with her friends, doing each-others hair and makeup, sharing clothes.

She froze for a moment. None of that was pre farm. It was all pre Peter.

Looking at herself in the mirror, her hair glossy and straight, her eyelashes curled up with eyeliner, a small dab of blush on her cheeks and her favourite lip gloss shining as she smiled.

For the first time in years, Wren saw herself smiling back at her.

It wasn't the makeup or the dress, it was the enjoyment of the little things. It was her taking care of herself.

It was her accepting love from others, and love from herself.

She turned away quickly, worried about crying and ruining her makeup. She crossed through the kitchen and to her bedroom, opening her closet in hopes of finding a clean pair of shoes. As badly as she wished to wear her favourite heels, she knew the terrain of the valley wouldn't support them. She settled for a pair of brown sandals, finishing by pulling her tigers eye necklace around her neck, and piling her silver rings onto her fingers.