Chapter Text
You lived in literal Hell. Every morning, you woke up with a new purple blossom that resulted from a drunken rage, a new mark to indicate you could never escape his clutches. It hurt to move, to breathe, to exist. Everything you did was wrong, and no matter how you tried to fix your mistakes, it was never enough to stop the angry screams and the painful blows. All that was left in the aftermath was a new blotch to add to the collection, all of them varying in sickening shades of brown, yellow, and purple.
Work was no better. With a boss who cared only for money and less about his employees, you and at least thirty other people were worked to the bone. Exhausted eyes stared at computer screens that shone too bright for rooms that were too dark, the strong scent of coffee that polluted the air was no longer noticed, the click clacking of the keyboards were the drums that beat as everyone marched to their overworked deaths. Everything in Joja was gray and lifeless, including the potted plant that went without water for far too long and is currently sitting in the corner, its once green body nothing more than a rotted brown corpse. Every time your tired eyes would gloss over it, you felt a pang in the center of your chest. A plant that offered oxygen and life was neglected by the only people who could care for it. It was a shameful and miserable way to go.
“Attention all JojaMart employees!” You raise your dull eyes to the speaker that hung over your head before returning your attention to your screen. Numbers and products glared mockingly at you, daring you to turn your eyes elsewhere once more. “As you all know, our lovely company has been increasing in popularity. So much so, the CEO of JojaMart Corporation has decided to add two whopping hours to your schedule!” Shocked gasps filled the air as your boss speaks with enthusiasm. Your coworkers murmured to each other in hushed voices, most angry, some in disbelief. “Thank you for your time, valued employees! We will see you at four tomorrow morning!”
“Oh my god, is he serious?” the lady beside you whispers.
“I think he is!” the guy in front of her affirms. They continue to speak out their incredulity to one another, oblivious to you. Your eyes had widened to the size of saucers, not leaving the bright screen once. Your boss’ words echoed in your mind, leaving you breathless and scared.
What would he think?! you wonder in fear. Just the thought of him made the fresh bruise under your left breast ache. You knew he’d be mad; he always was when you had to go to work. Now he’ll be completely enraged with this new news. You wouldn’t be surprised if he already knew.
You snap out of your fearful thoughts to a tanned hand waving in front of your face. Looking up, you see Theodora, an employee you weren’t well acquainted with, although you’ve seen her move into the apartment above yours.
“(Y/N), are you alright?” she asks, her voice laced with concern. You stare up at her, unsure of how to respond. “(Y/N)?” You blink before pulling your lips taut, returning your focus to the screen and placing your fingers back on the keys of your keyboard.
“I’m fine,” you bark with the hopes to cut the conversation short before it even starts. Theodora stays where she is, her brown eyes not once leaving your face.
“Is something going on at home?” she suddenly asks. You freeze and she knows. However, she doesn’t say anything, but instead decides to lean against your cubicle wall. “What do you think of the new hours?”
“Outrageous,” was your answer. The sound of typing fills your ears as you abuse the poor keyboard to get your job done. “I don’t like it at all.”
“Same here,” Theodora agrees. She goes silent for a moment, watching you type furiously. “You know, you’ll snap the thing in half if you keep typing like that.” Your fingers stop as you look up at her.
“I’m just trying to get my work done,” you tell her after a moment of silence. Theodora nods but doesn’t leave like you expected her to. You sigh. “Do you need something?”
“No, but you do,” she responds. You give her a careful look.
“What do you mean?”
“Well,” Theodora starts. The dirt under her fingernails suddenly catches her attention. “I know about what happens with Isaac, (Y/N). You need out of this town.”
“Where will I go?! He controls everything, Theo! I have no money, I have no insurance under my name, I don’t even have a place to go,” you vent. The brown haired woman watches you carefully as you go into hysterics.
“Girl, you need ta calm yourself down,” she finally says. You look up at her, tears brimming your eyes. “Just take a deep breath, alright? You’ll be fine. We’ll figure something out.”
“You don’t even know me,” you retort weakly, raising a hand to wipe away the tears before they could fall.
“No, but you’re my coworker and it’s the least I can do.” Theodora kneels to your level with a soft smile. You do your best to return it.
“Thanks. I mean it,” you sniffle.
“Anytime, girl. So, why don’t I help you pack up? You seem a bit out of sorts right now.” Nodding your head, you open your desk drawer to collect your wallet and keys. After shuffling your paperwork around to keep everything neat, you notice an old yellowed envelope. Theodora spots it immediately. “What’s that?”
“I don’t know,” you respond, picking it up. Flipping it over, you see your name written on the front in a scratchy handwriting. “My grandfather left it to me before he died. He said to open it when I need it, whatever that means.” Theodora shoots you a large grin.
“What?” you question.
“Open it!” she urges. You open your mouth to protest but close it. Maybe it isn’t such a bad idea. Releasing a small breath, you carefully open the envelope. Inside is a folded piece of yellow parchment, a few frail papers folded together, and a key.
“Huh,” you mutter, pulling the items out. You inspect the key before pocketing it, keeping the frail papers inside the envelope as to not damage them. Turning your attention to the piece of folded parchment, you open it and read what your grandfather had written. “Dearest (Y/N),” you read aloud, “If you’re reading this, you must be in dire need of a change. The same thing happened to me, long ago. I’d lost sight of what mattered most in life… Real connections with other people and nature. So I dropped everything and moved to a place I truly belong. I’ve included the deed to that place… My pride and joy: Tranquil Farm. It’s located in Stardew Valley, on the southern coast. It’s the perfect place to start your new life. This was my most precious gift of all, and now it’s yours. I know you’ll honor the family name, my girl. Good luck. Love, Grandpa. P.S. If Lewis is still alive, say hi to the old guy for me, will ya?”
You reread his words a few times before taking a look at the deed. A spark of life begins to shine in your dull eyes at the thought of moving there.
“Girl, you’ve gotta go!” Theodora says. You look up at her with hope, but it quickly disappears.
“How? I don’t have money. Not even enough for a bus ticket,” you tell her. Theodora frowns before walking away. Curious, you lean into the walkway and watch as she grabs her purse from the cubicle. “Oh, no. Absolutely not!” you exclaim when she walks back over. Theodora gives you a frown, reaching into her purse. When she pulls her hand out, she thrusts it to you, a small bag of gold coins in her grasp. “I can’t!”
“You will.”
“I have no way to repay you!” you try telling her, jumping when she drops the bag on your desk with a small thump.
“You know, you can repay me by finding your own happiness,” Theodora says. You stare up at her, your mouth agape. She smiles. “Go. You have a bus to catch.” She doesn’t have to say much more before you quite literally run out of the building, grabbing the bag along the way. On the way out, you pass your boss, who yells for you to come back. You ignore him and keep running.
The city was more alive than you remembered it to be. Cars honked, music was played by vendors on the streets, people talked and laughed into their cell phones. As you look around, you realize you won’t miss this place at all. Taking a deep breath, you run in the direction of your apartment, hoping that Isaac wasn’t home.
You burst through the doors and sprinted up the stairs. Your hair flew wildly behind you as your excitement grew, but you fell short when you finally came to your door. You listened.
It was silent. The T.V. wasn’t on, you didn’t hear any movement, and when you tried the doorknob, you discovered it was locked. Isaac wasn’t home.
Energy exploded in you once more as you unlocked the door and ran inside. You ran to your shared room and packed a suitcase as quickly as you could, shoving the deed to your new farm and your grandfather’s letter in your front pocket. Shirts, pants, and undergarments were thrown haphazardly into your suitcase, followed by your toiletries and the few books you were allowed to own. You threw your second pair of shoes in the case before zipping it shut. Running out of the bedroom, you paused at the kitchen and stared at the keys. It didn’t take more than a moment for you to drop them in the trash can, along with the sad flip phone Isaac had given you. All mementos of him would be gone. He would be gone. You can restart your life and find your own happiness.
That was all it took for you to lock the door before closing it behind you.
You carefully dragged your suitcase behind you, growing more and more excited the further you walked away from the damned apartment. Your neighbors were nowhere to be found as you left the apartment complex. The bus stop was only a block away, thankfully, so you hurried to get there before the bus left.
“One ticket to Stardew Valley, please!” you wheezed. The ticket operator gave you a shocked, wide eyed look before relaxing.
“Of course! That would be two hundred and fifty gold,” he replied. You dug into your pockets and pulled out the bag of gold Theodora gave you. Paying the man, you grasp the ticket and stare at it with wide eyes. “The bus will leave in five minutes.”
“Do you happen to know the phone number for Stardew Valley's mayor?” The ticket operator smiles and writes the number for you, passing the slip of paper to you.
“Enjoy the ride!”
“Thank you!” You turn and make your way to a pay phone. Dropping in five gold, you call the number and wait for an answer. On the third ring, someone picks up.
“Hello, this is Lewis, mayor of Stardew Valley. May I ask who is speaking?” an old man’s voice crackled through the phone. You take a breath to compose yourself.
“Hello, my name’s (Y/N) (Y/L/N). I’m the granddaughter of-” Mayor Lewis’ laughter cuts you off.
“I never thought I’d receive this phone call,” he mutters softly. You feel a pang of guilt. “Are you taking over your grandfather’s farm?”
“Ah, yes sir! I’m actually about to board the bus,” you tell him, looking back at where people are beginning to line up. “I should be there in a few hours.” Mayor Lewis hums.
“Alright. I will be sending Robin to meet you at the bus stop while I get everything ready for you. I’ll see you soon.” You say your farewells before running to the bus, the excitement simmering into anxiety. You take a seat towards the back of the bus.
Will the people of Stardew Valley like you? Will you even fit in? You don’t know how to farm at all, so what were you supposed to do? With a sigh, you lean your head against the window and allow your eyes to slip shut for just a moment.
You wake up to a hand on your shoulder, a gentleman smiling down at you.
“Here’s your stop, Stardew Valley,” he informs. You stretch your arms before standing.
“Thank you for the ride, sir. Drive carefully,” you tell him. He tips his hat, watching with a smile as you exit his bus. Outside waiting for you is a woman possibly in her forties, her bright orange hair standing out against the green of the valley. She smiles when she sees you.
“Hello! You must be (Y/N),” she greets. You simply nod, lowering your eyes to the dirt path. The woman hesitates before speaking up again. “I’m Robin, the local carpenter. Mayor Lewis sent me here to fetch you and show you the way to your new home. He’s there right now, tidying things up for your arrival.”
“He told me something like that,” you confirm, your voice soft. You didn’t know this woman at all, so it might be best to lay low for a day or two. Robin grins and steps aside, turning towards the valley.
“The farm’s right over here, if you’ll follow me.” Robin begins to walk away. Grabbing your suitcase, you follow her. As you walk, you take in the scenery. You can see some of the main part of town to your left. People of all sorts walk through the town, laughing and socializing with one another. You quickly dart your eyes away. At the fork in the road, Robin takes a right instead of a left, leading away from the town. Wordlessly, you follow her, gazing at the trees that swayed in the gentle wind.
“Oh wow,” you mutter. Tranquil Farm was… A complete mess. Weeds and trees grew everywhere and fallen logs littered the area. You caught sight of a few large boulders, grimacing at the thought of having to remove them by hand. However, you knew hard work and a little TLC was needed to turn this farm into a beautiful place to live.
“This is Tranquil Farm,” Robin informs. She takes a look at your sheepish expression. “What’s the matter? Sure, it’s a bit overgrown, but there’s some good soil underneath that mess! With a little dedication, you’ll have it cleaned up in no time.”
“I surely hope so,” you reply. Robin’s smile grows before gesturing for you to follow her. The two of you walk up to an old house. It looked as if it needed a few repairs here and there, but other than that, it looked sturdy and safe enough to live in.
“And here we are, your new home,” she says with a wide grin. You open your mouth to speak, but immediately close it as an older gentleman, one that honestly looked as old as dirt, exits your new house.
“Ah, the new farmer!” he says, a twinkle in his eyes. He climbs down the stairs to greet you, shaking your hand. “Welcome! I’m Mayor Lewis of Pelican Town.” Mayor Lewis lets go of your hand. You let it drop limply at your side.
“I talked to you on the phone,” you tell him. He smiles and nods.
“You know, everyone’s been asking about you. It’s not every day that someone moves in. It’s quite a big deal!”
“A small town,” you murmur. “Nice.” Mayor Lewis seems to not hear you as he turns to gaze up at the house. It’s a moment before he speaks.
“So… You’re moving into your grandfather’s old cottage.” He has a look of reminiscence in his soft brown eyes as he takes in the sight. “It’s a good house,” he continues. “Very ‘rustic.’” You turn to gaze up at the house. This was your first time seeing the place, but you felt at home here, almost as if your grandpa was with you in spirit.
“Rustic,” Robin speaks up. “That’s one way to put it… ‘Crusty’ might be a little more apt, though.”
“Rude!” Mayor Lewis gasps. You mentally agree with Robin, though. Said redhead laughs loudly, her shoulders bouncing. When she looks back at him, her green eyes sparkle mischievously. You’re not sure if you like that look or not. “Don’t listen to her, (Y/N). She’s just trying to make you dissatisfied so that you buy one of her house upgrades.”
“Hmph,” Robin grunts, crossing her arms in irritation. You lean over to Robin.
“It’s working, though,” you whisper. Robin smiles and lets out a soft giggle, hiding it behind her hand. Mayor Lewis shoots her a frown before turning back to you.
“Anyway… You must be tired from the long journey. You should get some rest.” As soon as he mentions that, you suddenly feel every fired up nerve crash. You’re exhausted. Mayor Lewis goes on. “Tomorrow, you ought to explore the town a bit and introduce yourself. The townspeople would appreciate that.” You nod.
“Thank you, Mayor Lewis,” you say. He smiles and waves before walking towards the town. Something must’ve caught his eye because he stops and turns to an odd wooden box.
“Oh, I almost forgot. If you have anything to sell, just place it in the box here. I’ll come by during the night to collect it.” You make a mental note of that. “Well, good luck!”
“Thank you!” you call after him. You hear him chuckle as he walks away. Robin pats your shoulder with a murmured, “Rest well” before following the mayor into town. Yawning, you open the door, wincing as it creaks. “Damn rusty hinges,” you mutter. The house is small, but it’s furnished. You’re relieved to find you won’t have to sleep on the floor tonight. With another yawn, you put your suitcase by the fireplace and walk over to the bed. Climbing in, you hug your pillow. The bed wasn’t terribly comfortable, but it’ll have to do. You close your eyes with a small smile.
You can’t wait for tomorrow.