Emily's Swan Song (Stardew Valley/My Time At Portia)

Emily's Swan Song

Prologue Days – Saturday, February 27

Life in Portia remained dull compared to life in the in the city of Atara, yet Emily felt she wouldn't change her life in Portia for anything in the world – well, almost anything.

Growing up, she found herself growing fonder of her time spent on the farm during the summer months when school let out, yet she also cherished the friendships she made while attending school in Atara; her friends during elementary school found her summer trips exotic due to never leaving the big city and wanting some kind of adventure themselves, particularly when Emily regaled them with tales of her grandfather's trips into the ruins searching for relics.

"I'm going to be an adventurer too one day," she'd loudly proclaim with all eyes on her.

Of course, over the years the admiration for her countryside trips and her zeal for adventuring diminished, but she and her friends found themselves moving on because life got in the way. Some ended up attending the university high school while she remained at the local one for her area, nor did her friends understand the charm of fresh meat and vegetables along with the fresh air. The fact Portia didn't have any kind of internet set up along with the preference for e-mail communication led to further disconnect once she moved to Portia full time, yet she still remembered the words which triggered the event.

An incident occurred regarding her grandmother.

She never learned the exact details regarding the event beyond the fact said the incident led to Sophie's adult children meeting at the home of Emily's parents to discuss what they needed to do. The grandchildren weren't included in the discussion yet some still came with their parents. More importantly, she remembered her mother saying, "What are we going to do about your mother?"

"It's not as if we can drop everything and go take care of her, but everyone else in the family has a life away from the farm, not to mention all of the grandchildren have their own dreams and aspirations for the future."

Except of course Emily.

Most days she didn't begrudge the decision, given the fact she really didn't have any future plans like the other grandchildren; if someone asked, she would have freely said yes giving how much she loved her grandmother and getting her hands dirty with farm soil.

Some days she did.

The attitude of Emily not having any dreams or aspirations when she'd not yet graduated high school thus making her the one and only considered option honestly sucked. Finishing up her high school education remotely with the help of the local teacher meant leaving behind all of her friends in Atara along with some thinking she'd completely dropped out. She missed seeing the current fashions she discussed with Sonia and Antoine up close and personal along with many other things.

The big kicker – dating options.

Even her friends in Portia felt the same way, yet days when she longed for a nice relationship like her grandmother and grandfather's, or the one she saw with Mars and Carol along with thoughts regarding raising a future generation on the farm left her feeling down in the dumps, but today proved one such day. Emily let out a sigh, leaning against the table with her elbows while her cheeks rested in the palms of her hands, her garden salad remaining uneaten in front of her.

"Something the matter."

"Just lamenting the lack of potential bachelors here in Portia," Emily muttered, her eyes remaining unfocused. "Not that you wouldn't make a great spouse Antoine, but you're like family."

"Aw. That's sweet of you."

"Well, I'm still waiting for some rich bachelor to ride into town and sweep me off my feet."