Intoxicated (Stardew Valley)

Chapter Fourteen

IT WAS AN ordinary day in Pelican Town.

Birds flew around looking for food—eating crops and pecking at crumbs, the sun was at its peak as it heated up plants, and even the little creatures were out scurrying across town.

It was lovely outside, as it should be. After all, this town was naturally cheerful.

But as you walked across town and into the forest toward the east, there was a little farm that was covered in shrubs and trees, had overgrown or wilted crops, and the animals had thinned from the lack of hay. This was Sundew Farm, a piece of land owned by Grandpa—owned by me.

As I laid in bed with dirty plates and wrappers surrounding me, I groaned, thinking about how Grandpa would be so disappointed in me.

First with how I had turned away from him as I was preoccupied with my job at Joja Corporations. He'd constantly write me letters, to ask how I was doing, and update me on the farm. I didn't appreciate them as much I did until after he had died. And second with how I've isolated myself from this town, letting myself grieve with the past and turning the people I care about away. Shane especially.

It was only a few days ago when he told me the truth about his life, about what had happened, about why he truly came to this town.

I've wanted to know for so long, to understand this man that I was so intoxicated with. But now I know the truth. I know what really happened. Who caused it. It would have been better not to know.

Who would have thought that I was the cause of Shane's miserable life, that I was at fault for killing his girlfriend and unborn child. It wasn't directly, but I didn't give him the money to support him. I was still at fault.

He'd hate me if he found out the truth.

No, he'd despise me so much that he wouldn't even look at me. He'd toss me away like a can of Joja Cola, disgusting.

"That can't happen," I whispered as my eyes glazed over the ceiling and my mind whirled to memories of Shane and me. Sitting on the dock drinking a cold one. Laying on the cliffs he so wanted to fling himself off of. Going to Sam's concert. Exploring the once abandoned community centre on Spirit's Eve. The joy in his eyes as he was freed from Joja Mart.

I closed my eyes and took a breath. I knew I should tell him the truth. My heart was telling me to, but my mind was stopping me. Why? I didn't know why. Maybe it was because of the fact that I was growing so close to him, I didn't want to let him go. To see another person disappointed in me.

I can't tell him. It'd be a secret I'll take to the grave.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside of my window. I perked my head up and listened. There were slicing sounds, as if someone was cutting up shrubs. I grabbed my tools and left the ranch for the first time.

"Abigail?" I blurted out, seeing the disaster in front of me.

Sure enough, the farm was a mess. Everything was dead or overgrown. It looked like the first time I had came here. It was all my fault. As everything was. I was so preoccupied with my personal problems that I stopped caring for the farm.

Abigail, with her bright purple hair, looked at me in shock as she lowered her sword in hand. It looked like she was cutting up the trees. "Huh, you actually are alive."

"Why wouldn't I be?" I deadpanned, though I already knew the answer.

She shrugged and sliced her sword in the air. "No one has seen you ever since you built up that old community centre. We all thought you died or something." I gave her a surprised look. "Okay, it was only me who thought you died."