Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon but I thank Natsume for making this great game. :-1 Tickles the Harvest Sprite sitting next to me.

Chapter 2 Reviewing the Sorrow

Ann woke up in her bed. "So, he's bringing strangers into the Inn at night when I'm asleep or unconscious, and pretending that nothing is wrong?" She silently got out of the bed and walked over to her chest of drawers. She picked out some jeans and a pink, koala shirt. She got changed and re-braided her hair with a pink ribbon, to match her

shirt. She made her bed then got the broom to start sweeping.

Doug silently got out of his room on the second floor. He really did hate lying and hiding things from Ann…but this was his own business. She should mind her own head. He crept down the stairs and creaked on only a few floor boards. He walked over to the door behind the counter and opened it. He peered in to make sure the cost was clear. He had to be extra careful because ever since he took up his new uh… hobby, he had to be quite sure who was where and when at the inn. Doug stepped inside the room to gaze upon his possessions.

Ann had finished sweeping all of the rooms. The other inhabitants of the hotel had left for the day. She went outside and picked out three flowers from the many that grew in front of the Inn. She went back inside and climbed back up the stairs to set a flower in each vase in each room. She made the other beds in the other rooms and tidied up. Satisfied with her work, she retired to her own room.

She climbed onto her bed and glanced at the door quickly to be sure that it was locked. She turned to her pillow, opened the pillow-case that surrounded it, and pulled out a worn in book and some pens. Ann smacked herself on her forehead as she hopped up and closed her curtains. She also went to her dresser to grab the tissue. This had become a ritual for her. Every morning, before the Inn opened to the public. She opened the book, wrote in the date on a blank page and decided to read her former entries.

Fall, day 12.

I can't stand it anymore. For almost a whole week now, daddy has been locking himself in his room in the morning while I'm still cleaning, then not coming out until he goes to bed. I can't take it. He leaves all the work to me. What have I done wrong? What am I doing wrong? This is the first entry in my diary. And to top it all off…Popuri, Cliff, Karen and the doctor all got drunk at the Inn last night. Number one, they didn't invite me (not that I would want to get drunk anyways but still) and number two, I caught Cliff making out with Popuri! Popuri was my best friend. How could they do this to me? What have I done wrong Cliff? If you would've only told me… I could've fixed it. Oh well... I suppose it's too late for that now. Obviously, it's my fault... I will write about my pain in this book, also who hurt me. This is the only way I can deal wit it.

Fall, day 25.

I thought things were going fine, until today I suppose. Cliff and Popuri have been purposely staying out of my way. Today though, Cliff broke my heart. It's obviously my fault. He was sitting with Popuri at the farthest table from where I was standing behind the counter. They apparently needed to talk privately. As if I couldn't see them. Things were okay until Popuri's face neared closer to Cliff and…and they…they kissed! Cliff…he didn't pull away or anything! He didn't resist. I thought me and Cliff were together… not Cliff and that pink-haired puff ball Popuri! I watched them. It seemed like forever and I started to wonder when they would take a breath again (though I secretly hoped that they would both suffocate). They finally broke and Cliff gazed into her eyes. She did the same. They left that day, holding hands. I hope my tear stains do not make too much damage on my diary.

Winter, day 1.

Now today…I can't stand to think about it. I was going for a walk on Sunday. A day when father came out for a few minutes to give me some time to do whatever I wanted to. This day I decided to go for a walk. I ran into the mayor, Thomas. We chatted like things were all fine and dandy on my part. Then he asked me about my mother. Do you know anything about her? He asked. No I replied. Oh well… We sat in silence for a few minutes. I couldn't stand it. Why? I asked. Do you know something? Thomas stared at me, long and hard. Well, I am terribly sorry, but I really must be going. Then he just walked off. I don't understand. Why wouldn't he tell me? What did I do wrong? No one ever tells me about my mother. So I no longer care about her. She's the one that left me. Mom…

Winter, day 5.

Today, father came out of his room angry and flustered. He wouldn't tell me why when I asked. He stayed in his bedroom until the Inn closed. Then he came out and yelled at me. He swore and cursed at me. He started throwing glasses at me. Glass glasses. They hurt when they shattered against my frail body. I can't wear my overalls and orange shirt anymore, because they are stained with blood and tears. He then walked over to me, as I fell to the floor in pain and fright. He smirked at me and kicked me. I felt no pain but saw stars instead. I woke on that same floor and crawled up to my room. Here I am now, all battered and broken. I will finish writing for tonight, then crawl out of the Inn and position myself under the Mother's Hill cliff. This will make it seem that I slipped off and hurt myself, instead of my father's anger being the cause. Someone is bound to find me lying there.

Winter, Day 8.

It was three days before they let me out of the dank hospital room... Okay not exactly let me out. Karen had been exploring the forest when she came across my broken, bloody body. She assumed just what I wanted her to, and took me to the clinic. I woke on the second day, and felt immense amounts of pain. I lied and said I was fine but they had discovered broken bones. They told me to take it easy and rest. I was restless. Who would look after the Inn? Turns out no-one did. I snuck out the third day, limping because my ankle was broken. I made it to the Inn so here I am. I have to write quickly today because I hear my father's harsh footsteps, climbing up the wood stairs.

Winter, Day 9.

I get hurt, more and more frequently now. Why is this happening to me oh Goddess. Why do you punish me? What have I done? My father stormed into my room yesterday, yelled, threw things and asked why I wasn't at the Inn for the past few days. I told him that I had fallen off of Mother's Hill. He wasn't satisfied. He yelled some more then threw my mother's flower vase out the second story window. I cried. I couldn't help it.

Ann closed the book and sniffled. She couldn't bear to read anymore. Her father, Doug. Some days he was okay, and then others he was... not okay. Other days, Ann would try and defend for herself head over to the phone to phone Harris for help. Of course, Doug would block her way to the phone and hit her until she gave up. He often told her to calm down and think about what he could do to her if he was angry enough.

Ann looked out at the still broken window as she remembered all these horrible memories. She turned her attention away from her window and picked up her pen and book. She wrote about her evening last night and how it hurt her that her father was keeping secrets from her. She silently set her pen and book down when she was done writing someone knocked at her door…

I know. Cliffhanger. At least it will keep you faithful listeners reading. Which is good:D