I DO NOT OWN HARVEST MOON OR ANYTHING LIKE IT!

Chapter 1

"Lilian! Come here, I have a surprise for you! I know how much you've been wanting to run your own business, well, here's your chance! Your grandfather left you his farm after he died, he wanted you to run it!" Lilian was being shaken by her mother, she moaned and swatted at her mother.

"Mama, what the hell? I'm sleeping!" She grumbled flipping on her side.

"GET UP!" Her mother screamed, making Lilian jolt and fall out of her bed with a tumble of sheets.

"Goddess, okay, I'm up I'm up!" She moaned, rubbing her head. "So, I get my own business?" She grumbled, slowly standing up.

"Yes, isn't that wonderful sweety?! You're first real job, you should leave immediately!" Her mother clapped with joy. Lilian was interested in business, but she never expected working on a farm would be considered her type of business. She considered it hard labor.

"But I was looking forward to open a new fashion industry ma, I don't feel like breaking my butt on a stupid old farm," Before her mother could retort, she exclaimed," BUT! If it means I'm doing a favor for Grandpa, then I'll do it." Lilian moaned and stomped towards her mother, forcing her out of the room in tiny little jitters of excitement.

"You should leave tomorrow then, we have packing to do my dear!" Lilian nodded and pounded her head into the door. She didn't want to leave the city, but she had respect for her family, since her father died, and now her Grandfather died. The least she could do was take care of the family farm. Her father would respect her for it if he were still alive.

Her mother kept babbling, and all Lilian could do was slide down her door and stay in a lump. She had been in a grave depression since her father died 5 months ago, right before her graduation, but now, she can be closer to him on the farm.

Lilian got dressed, and called a few friends, telling them about her departure. She really didn't have many friends, but she didn't care. She was more of a loner anyway. She looked at herself in the mirror, a splitting image of her mother. Light brown/blonde hair to her mid back, a nice fit body, tan skin, and large brown eyes. She always thought she looked like a little prep, with a slight attitude. She smiled, she knew she was gorgeous, but she hated to be modest about it.

It was 12 p.m. now, and she was getting fidgety. In another 24 hours she would be gone to a distant island where there was an old farm sitting there waiting for her. She looked at herself in the mirror again, and tugged at her jeans and tank top. She took her purse and ran out the door, waving at her mother and hopping into her car. She set off on a drive to a coffee shop, sighing and laughing at the same time. She was finally getting out of the city, and she would be starting over with nothing to remind her of her father's death.

She looked over as she sat at a stop sign, leaves tumbled across the hood of her car, and the sky was a bright blue. She sunk deeper into the leather seat of her Volvo, and looked over. There were two guys a little older than her staring at her, with greasy smiles. One rolled down his window and called to her. She frowned and looked over, giving them a disgusted face, then laughing hysterically at them. The drove off in a rage and left her at the stop light. She smiled, she loved to piss guys like that off, they always seemed to get under her skin.

When she arrived at the coffee shop, her friend Emily was sitting there, reading a book. She was a super party girl, everyone loved her. She had 10 boyfriends at a time, and she loved it. She had deep brown hair, dark blue eyes, and a figure to die for.

"Holy crap! Lili! Dude, I can't believe you're leaving the big city! You aren't even going to college with us! Are you going to school there?!" Lilian sat down, a waiter appeared taking her order and rushing off.

"Yeah, mom was babbling about me taking a lap top to study on after work. I can't believe I'm leaving. It is all so sudden. I have to go home in a few hours to pack up and leave. We should write to each other." Lilian said, swinging her legs.

"Definately, give me the address in an email, and we'll write all the time. So yeah, I'm going to a party tonight, do you think you will be able to make it?" Lilian smiled and shook her head no, taking the cup of coffee out of the waiter's hand.

"Nah, I need to spend time with my mom. I know she'll be so lonely, especially since my brother is in college in Houston. Oh well, he is going to a really good school." She yawned and took in the scent of cocoa beans mixed with the coffee beans. The swirls from the cream made small shapes that swirled about, changing every now and then. She sighed and took a sip.

Emily and Lilian talked a bit until a few hours had passed and Lilian's coffee was gone. She gave Emily a hug and looked at her. "I'll see you in a few! Bye hun!" Lilian smiled, hopping into her car.

"Yeah babe! Definately!" Emily called back to her as she sped off. Lilian had to admit she would miss her crazy friend, but maybe she was just a little too crazy.

Her mother was in tears on the front porch when Lilian pulled up. She wiped her eyes and stared at Lilian, hugging an album of Lilian's baby pictures.

"Oh mama, don't be so sad! Everything will be okay!" Lilian smiled and kissed her mother's cheek, sitting next to her.

"I-I know, but my b-baby is all g-grown, and and and I am going to miss you!!!!" Her mother cried and cried, and Lilian just looked at her, she held her mother close and sighed.

"It will be okay mama, everything will be okay. Come on, lets go inside, have some tea, and then get me all packed up." Her mother frowned and nodded, standing up. Lilian felt so terrible for her mother, she would be completely alone now, and she wished she would never have to leave the city.

After tea and cookies, they started to pack. It was almost 9:30 p.m. when they finished, and they both sighed. She had to leave the next day. Her mother kissed her cheek and walked into her bedroom, as Lilian lay on the couch. She felt so empty in that darkness.

Dawn blinded Lilian through the curtains, she practically fell off her bed. Her mother was still not awake. The whole room was quiet. She walked to her bedroom, and there was nothing in it, just a couple scraps of paper, and an old bed frame. She touched the walls, taking in the old memories. She sighed and turned around, closing her door for the last time for three years.

Lilian began cooking her last breakfast in the house, she had absolutely no appetite, but she would force herself to eat. She needed the strength for the voyage to the island. Her mother had woken to the scent of eggs and smiled. She was in her robe and her pajamas.

"Ah, my baby is going off today! I'm so happy for you Lilian! I am the proudest mother that has ever lived!" She smiled and sat at the table, the sun glared in through the windows, and made her mother look completely radiant. Her mother had the same colored hair as Lilian, except she kept it shoulder length, her eyes were blue instead of brown, and she had every facially feature of her mother, except for the occasional laughing line and wrinkle from age.

Lilian sat down with two plates of scrambled eggs and bacon. She ate quietly, looking at the clock which read 10:30 a.m. It was Sunday, the saddest Sunday. As Lilian cleared the table, her mother took her hand before she could stand.

"Be careful babe, okay? Be very careful. I love you." Her mother had a glint in her eye.

"I know mama, I will." Lilian stood up, and washed her hands. She went back to her room, and there was a stack of clothes on a box she had left the night before. She changed and looked at her mirror again, she wasn't vain, but she felt differently about herself that day, she felt happy, inwardly. She could see the smile on her father's face.