I awoke to the chirping of birds and the slow hiss of the bus's brakes. The 16 hour trip to my new home was finally over. I had arrived in the quaint little town of Stardew Valley. Standing up from my seat, I hunched over to avoid hitting my head on the ceiling of the bus, and quickly picked up my luggage and headed out the door. I stepped foot onto the grassy land underneath me as the bus took off behind me. A faint breeze jostled my hair. The bus stop was rather underwhelming, much less busy than the one I had come from back in the city. Ugh, the city. I didn't want to think about the many years I had wasted working behind a computer screen, stuck up in a cubicle, and waiting for each monotonous day to end. A point came when I snapped, I couldn't take it anymore. I needed a way out and suddenly I thought back to my grandfather. He passed away when I was much younger, before I was in this living hell. A letter he had left me was still in my desk drawer, and I knew now was a better time to open it then ever. He had left me his farm in my name. I remembered visiting the farm, and enjoying the beautiful nature that surrounded it. The brisk water and lush forests combined to create some of my best memories as a child, and the thought of returning to the wilderness filled me with more excitement than any corporate promotion could provide. And so, without hesitation, I made the decision to give up my daily life in the city and come to the valley.

"Hey, you!" called a woman's voice. I looked over to where it had come from and saw a red-haired lady energetically walking toward me, being followed by a not as energetic older man.

"You must be the new farmer, right? What was your name again?" she questioned, looking me up and down and then reaching out her hand.
"(m/n) is what most people call me." Why did I say that, that's what all people call me. I reached my hand out and she gave me a rather firm handshake.

"Well, Mr. (m/n)," she said with a smirk. "The name's Robin. I'm the local carpenter, so contact me whenever you need a job done. Oh, yeah, and this here is Lewis."

Lewis, Lewis, why did that name seem important? Oh, right, of course, this was my Grandfather's old friend. He had so many stories to tell of their younger days. I felt fortunate enough to know a bit about the mayor before making my first impression.

"Hi there, mayor." So much for making the most out of my first impression.

"Yes, hello, young man. It's a pleasure to welcome you to Stardew Valley. It's been so long since someone moved in, the whole town has been bustling with excitement at your arrival. If you would, follow me and I'll show you around your new farm." he explained, gesturing me to come with him.

I picked up my bags and made my way down the dirt path, on my way to the next step of my life.

"Well, here we are" Lewis said proudly.

I looked around. What a dump. Seriously, had the pristine natural landscape I enjoyed as a child really been transformed into this dilapidated wasteland? The place had been overrun with weeds as far as I could see, and the land had lost any sign it had even been a farm in the first place. Of course, I didn't say any of this to these two. First, because I didn't want to insult Lewis or my grandfather's generosity and legacy, and second, because Robin had already addressed it for me.

"Wow, this place hasn't obviously hasn't received any attention recently. But I'm sure you'll just love cleaning, I mean, living here."

"Robin! Is that any way to treat a newcomer? You should be ashamed." scolded

Lewis. Not that I felt any attachment to this place, but I did appreciate Lewis's reprimand.

"Well, farmer, I suppose we should leave you to your new place! Please, feel free to make yourself at home. This is your new home, after all. Once you're done setting up, please come to the town square and meet everyone. They're all dying to meet you." Lewis said.

And so, here it was. The direction my life was going, this new place, these new people, all staring me straight in the face. I walked up the wooden stairs, onto my new porch, each step creaking the boards beneath me. I took a deep breath, put my hand on the loose doorknob, and stepped into the home that may be my place of residence for the rest of my life. Well, it was bit more underwhelming than I expected. The drab yellow walls matched the rough hardwood in ugliness, the kitchen was hardly able to be called a kitchen, and the paint was chipping away in the corners to reveal the green wallpaper beneath it. The house was empty beside a twin sized bed opposite the kitchen, a television set, and a box in the middle of the floor. The box was addressed from Lewis, and inside I found some parsnip seeds.

"Parsnips, huh? How exciting." I said sarcastically. It's not as if I expected everything to be exciting. That was part of the reason I left my busy life in the city, to get away from excitement.

Rather than bother with the parsnips any further, I walked over to the TV and turned it one. I scrolled through the three channels, utterly uninterested. Well, at least I won't waste my time watching TV all day, and the weather channel should at least be useful. Great to know if it's going to rain, so I'm not burdened by the tediousness of watering my crops. It's only noon, yet I still feel tired. Probably because of the journey, but also probably because I'm just tired all the time in general. Hopefully I would get used to not being tired.

I step outside once again to be greeted by rays of sunshine unlike those found in the city. It only hit me now that this truly was a life different to anything I had previously known.

"Well, this place won't clean itself!" I declared, continuing the tradition of talking to myself. Grandpa had really left this place in a dump. Scattered rocks and branches from trees decorated the field. Patches of thick, long grass camouflaged entire areas of land, and as the distance from my house increased literal boulders and tree trunks dotted the land.

"Boulders? How did boulders even get here?"

No time to start like the present, and I immediately got to work. I got space cleared out and planted my first parsnips. "Rest easy, my children," I said, instantly regretting and wondering why I had just said that. My watering can which I had brought out with me was heavier than I had expected. When I went to pour some on the plants, liquid sloshed around, unevenly covering the soil. I never would have thought that I would need to increase my proficiency with a watering can.

"Good enough." I said to my lackluster accomplishment.

With the busy work completed, now was the time to explore this new town all on my own. Past the bus stop I walked, into the town square. It really was beautiful place. The bushes adorning each corner with vivacious greens, flower pots like rainbows breathing life and culture into the air. I gazed through the town, captivated by my amazement.

"Hey, watch where you're walkin', idiot!" shouted an irritated man as he bumped into me. I hadn't even noticed him, nor had I expected the locals to be so unfriendly. Well, I wasn't about to let one jerk ruin my first experience with the town. Outside a store was a calendar posted, listing various townsfolks' birthdays.

"How quaint," I once again said to myself, as I walked into the store. Organically lit, the rustic shop was unlike anything I had seen in the city.

"And you must be the new farmer! (m/n), was it? I'm Pierre, and here at Pierre's you'll find only the freshest produce available!"

"Oh, honestly, Pierre! Give them time to breath, will you! Not everything is an opportunity for financial gain," came a voice from an aisle. Out stepped a middle-aged, green-haired lady. Wait, green hair? Okay, sure. "Pardon my husband, new farmer. The name is Caroline. It truly is a pleasure to meet you." We shook hands and I left the store. I had a feeling I'd be visiting there often. I continued my self-guided tour of the town. Aside from the saloon, which I was not about to enter in the middle of the afternoon, the town was lightly filled with other houses. In front of one was a dog pen, leaning over the side was a tall, muscular boy about my age. Brown hair and illustrious eyes, I felt like I couldn't take my eyes off of him.

"Are you gonna introduce yourself or just keep looking at me? I'm not a model, you know." I guess I really couldn't take of eyes off of him. Despite my previous encounter and this guy's tough demeanor, he took to to me rather fondly.

"The name's Alex, big guy. I take it you're the new farmer everyone's been so fervent about."

"Uh, yes. Hello. Um," Was I blushing? "I, uh, just, uh, thought your dog was really cute, er, cool, or..."

"Thanks," he responded, rather earnestly. We talked a bit and walked about the town. I think I made a good impression, and by the time we got done walking, it was getting dark out. We said our goodbyes, and I made my way back home. You know, if all my days in this town were like this one, I think I could really love it here.