Intoxicated (Stardew Valley)

Chapter Thirteen

Hi everyone! I know this chapter is LONG OVERDUE. I was preoccupied with school, sorry about that! But school is out so I do plan on finishing this story for the summer! Anyways, maybe skim through the last few chapters for a bit of a recap.

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I WAS A mess.

I mean, my life was always messed up, there was no doubt about that. When working with Joja in the city, when I manipulated people for their money... especially when I indirectly killed a woman and her unborn child, all because of my selfishness and my greed.

I refused to give my employee the money to support them and coming here was a way of escaping my demons.

Suddenly, my life took a drastic turn. I never expected that I would enjoy this small town, harvesting crops, meeting neighbours that I could call family...meeting Shane. I changed him as much as he changed me.

I found a reason to live life to the fullest, to forget my past and move on. He was the reason.

But because of my actions and devoting my time toward fixing the community centre, I may have lost him forever. I said words that I shouldn't have out of pain and stress.

Now my life was at its core of messed up.

Shane refuses to speak with me, let alone associate anything with me. Whenever I try to patch things between us, he turns me down and gives me the cold shoulder. I don't blame him, I blame myself.

I walked towards Marnie's ranch, another futile attempt of trying to speak with Shane. But this time, I was determined. If Shane didn't accept me back into his life, I'd be able to live with that, but I'd want him to know how sorry I was.

"Good morning, Marnie," I greeted as Marnie stood outside and tended to her cattle. Her back was faced to me as I walked up to the fence.

As soon as I got closer, I saw the stress etched on her face. Her eyes were puffy and red, as if she was just crying. The usual chirpy woman was a broken image of herself. What happened?

"Are you okay?"

Marnie used her sleeves to wipe her eyes and sadly smiled. "It's been a rough few days with Shane." She sighed and gave me a solemn look. "Mae, I don't know what happened between you and my nephew, but he's gone back to his old self, and I don't know what to do about it."

I averted eye contact with shame. It was all my fault that Marnie was suffering and I couldn't do anything about it. "I don't know what to do either," I whispered.

"Look, you should talk to him and settle it between you. You always know how to cheer him up."

"I'll try..." I said as I walked into the ranch.

I approached Shane's bedroom door and pressed my ear against it. Nothing. Maybe he was sleeping? I knocked twice, but there was silence. I knocked again, but this time I opened it and stepped in.

Everything was a mess. Food wrappers and garbage bags were sprawled on the floor, and my eyes widened at the sight of beer bottles. My heart sunk at the sight. Shane had relapsed into drinking again. After everything we've been through, he still turned back to alcohol as a healing mechanism.

"What do you want?" the familiar voice demanded. I flinched and faced Shane who stood opposite of me, clutching a bottle in his hand.

Shane's face was pale with dark bags under his eyes. It looked like he hadn't slept in weeks, even if it was just a few days. I knew I was the cause of this.

"I wanted to talk to you, Shane." I longed to reach out to him, but I knew I couldn't.

"I don't want to listen to your excuses," he spat with hatred, his eyes burning into mine. "In fact, I want nothing to do with you anymore. Please leave." That was a slap to the face. He started to approach as if forcing me to leave.