Stardew Valley

Chapter 1

   Have you ever had a job that you hated so much the thought of quitting was the only thing keeping you going? You might think to yourself, "Hey at least the money is good!" or "I can't leave because than I would need to find another job for me to be miserable at."  Luckily when it came to dark, depressing, and suffering, Jake was in his element.

After all, he had been working for Joja  for about 5 years now and if he knew anything from his time here it was that Joja had only one perk; money. Unfortunately the cons all involved how this company made you feel like an easy to replace prisoner. Jake's office didn't even have a window. Which made sense since the company use to have weekly suicides before they removed them.

To his left a co worker whom he had never met typed into his keyboard at a slow monotonous rate. The noise of typing flooded the office. It was a sound Jake hated more than his distaste in country music.

Now to  try and make things a little better he once tried to sneak in music. His supervisor however  quickly had it removed because it "disturbed the work environment."  How wearing headphones disturbed anyone bewildered him. After years of being miserable Jake knew he had to get out of here. The only problem was he wasn't quite sure how to escape a place that could make hell not seem so bad. 

Once work ended Jake crawled to his couch and just laid there. Drained of his mental energy Jake couldn't help but think about how this was going to be his life from now on. This was why he went to college. Everything he had done up to this point was just so he could learn that happiness is something that only exists in movies or badly written fan fiction.

Jake glanced at his phone. Five missed calls and about a dozen text messages.  Curious as to why he had so many messages he opened it to see that they were all from his mom. Each text  begging him to come to the hospital right away. Jake got into his car and sped off. His grandpa had been sick and very old for a long time now.  His family was always inviting him to do things but he always claimed working made him too busy to visit his family. Jake knew those were just lame excuses.  If he hurried however, he figured he could at least say goodbye.

Unfortunately Jakes hopes came to a dead stop once he saw the traffic in front of him.

"Come on!" Jake screamed from his car. "The one time I actually need to do something."

He sat in his car angry and saddened. He thought back to all of the great times he had shared with his grandfather on his farm. Learning to ride a horse, milking cows, playing with his golden retriever Roxy. All of these fond memories and now he was about to lose out on seeing him one last time.

"No." Jake thought. "This is not happening. I still have time, I can make it to him."

Jake pulled over into a Handicap spot on the side of the street. "It'll be fine." Jake figured, "after all' not saying goodbye is going to be a permanent handicap on my mental state.

He tore out of his car and started sprinting towards the subway.

Wheezing, out of breath, and wishing he had signed up for a gym. Jake had finally made it. If he timed this right he would reach his Grandpa in 30 minutes. The ride over there Jake felt anxious. He couldn't stop moving hoping he would get to his destination already. Finally after what felt like hours the doors opened and Jake burst out the doors.

He ran as fast as he could, determined to reach the hospital in time. Jake checked his phone. Still no bad news texts. He sprinted down three blocks until he finally saw it. The "Concerned Ape" Hospital. Aware everyone would be looking at him he quickly walked to the first person who could help him. After quickly learning what room his Grandpa was in Jake hastily made his way only to reach the final door in his path and stop.

"Why am I feeling this way." Jake thought to himself.

Here he was. He finally made it. So why did he suddenly feel this intense amount of fear channeling his entire body. His hands began to shake.

"Okay I need to snap out of this," thought Jake. "Am I that out of shape? Perhaps I'm just sick.."

It was at that moment that everything finally clicked. Jake was hit with a sudden realization.  He was scared. He was terrified of seeing him die. This was going to be the last time he would ever see his Grandfather Eric. The man who had basically raised him after his dad died.

"I think it's time you say goodbye," a voice interjected.

Jake turned around and saw his mom with tears running down her eyes.

"Come here" she shakily said.

Jake embraced his mom in a tightly squeezed hug.

"You look terrible," she stated.

"Not as bad as Grandpa is about to be."

"That is not funny" she said giving Jake her infamous disappointed look.

"Im going in mom, I need to say goodbye."

Jake reached for the door handle, opened the door, and was face to face with the nurse who was taking care of his grandpa.

"Im so sorry sweetie, he passed away."