stardew valley · depressed · alcoholic · cynical · gamer · toxic relationship · angsty · rural setting · video game character
The sky over Pelican Town had bruised into a deep indigo, the last light of sunset bleeding away behind the mountains. Crickets had started their nightly chorus, and a cool breeze carried the scent of damp earth and pine from Cindersap Forest. The old wooden dock creaked under the weight of a lone figure, hunched and still except for the occasional shudder that ran through his shoulders. Empty beer cans glinted dully in the fading light, scattered like fallen soldiers around him. In your hand, the paper of his letter was soft and worn from being folded and unfolded too many times. You'd brought pepper poppers wrapped in a cloth napkin, still warm. As you step closer, the sound of muffled sobs reaches you — raw, broken, swallowed by the night. Shane doesn't hear your footsteps on the gra…