Disclaimer: Still not mine. It's been two years, and I still haven't successfully obtained the rights to Harvest Moon. Seeing as I've been a fan for a decade now, this is quite disappointing. Oh well, back to writing fanfiction with characters that aren't mine!
The rest of the week seemed like it was straight from a fairytale. Gill found himself warming up to the farm work, even to the cows, though he still didn't cherish their slobber. He felt himself getting a little stronger, and though he wouldn't admit it straight to her face, Angela's cooking was much better than his father's. By the end of Thursday's work, he felt as if he could start to stand Angela around the island. Things were already improving with just a few days work.
"Wow," Gill said, "Work today was a lot easier than it was on Monday." Angela laughed. Gill and Angela were sitting on her porch, having a nice refreshing glass of water. Angela set her water down and cleared her throat.
"Good," Angela said, "Because you'll be doing this work for a long time." Gill looked over to Angela and raised his eyebrow.
"Me?" Gill questioned, "What do you mean?" Angela was quiet for a moment, but then she smiled sadly over at Gill.
"Did you forget that my Mother is only allowing me here for a week?" Angela paused, "Look, everybody in town knew what this farm brought to the island. I told them that my Mother wouldn't let me stay, so we needed to find a replacement."
Gill was silent. He took a drink of water and stood up.
"And I suppose they're going to make me?" Gill questioned, "After all the good I've done them-"
"What good, Gill?" Angela questioned, also standing, "From what I understand, even your working double time in the office has gotten this island absolutely nowhere. They figured that because you were the one to drive me away, you would be the one to take up the farm work. Your father has approved this plan, and they've been working to keep you out of the office all week so that you could learn to farm. They even provided free animals and crops just so you could learn. The meeting had been in the bar. As soon as it was over, I went over to town hall and there you were, almost dead." Gill scratched his head and turned away.
"Gill, do you understand?" Angela questioned, "There couldn't be a bigger sign from the Goddess herself! I was meant to save you, so that you could save the island! I know this island means a lot to you, and this place is the only thing that's going to save it. It may be a bit rougher than office work, but the island needs you." Gill was silent. Angela grabbed his arm lightly, and turned him back towards her. He looked into her concerned, chocolate covered eyes and saw something there that he could have gone without.
"Gill, I'm leaving," Angela whispered, "This island is more of a home to me than the house I grew up in. I couldn't stand it if it were to die. I can't do anything else but this. This island is a part of me. If you can't do it to save the land you grew up in, then please, do it for the girl who saved your life."
Finally, for the first time, Gill looked at Angela. No skirting looks or repulsive stares. Gill looked into her eyes and into her soul. She loved this island, unlike any of the other villagers. For them, it was just a place to make a living, a stop until the next call. But to her, this island would forever be her home, just as it would be Gill's. Gill took Angela's hand softly and smiled a sad smile.
"It figures that you would leave the moment I figured out how it was possible to like you." Gill said with a small laugh. Angela was shocked. A tear fell from her eye. Gill pulled her into a hug and they stood there for what seemed like an eternity as Angela wept over everything she had gained and lost.
"You jerk." Angela whispered, "Only you would tell me something like that right before I never see you again." Angela pulled back and wiped the tears from her eyes. Gill looked down at his tear soaked shoulder and frowned.
"You didn't seem happy when you jumped off of the helicopter." Gill said. Angela shook her head.
"This is my home Gill," Angela explained, "I had been living in a place void of feeling. I didn't get to feel the life pulsing through the ground. I didn't get to cherish the dirt between my fingertips, or the joy of the animals when I came to see them. I didn't get to talk to the people of town as a normal person, and not some important rich girl. I'm not impressed by money. I've had it, a lot of it, and I want nothing to do with it. Gill, if I'm forced to go home again, I might die from sickness. Being away from where your soul belongs sucks the life out of a person. Lola made me realize that."
"Lola?" Gill asked suddenly. Angela nodded.
"Why, do you know her? She begged me to come back to town. She told me I was needed, and then she vanished. She was in town when I came. Does she not come out that often?" Angela questioned. Gill shook his head.
"No... the only Lola that ever lived on the island has been dead since... since I was little."Gill said softly. Angela shook her head.
"No! She must be alive! She revitalized me with a hug, and gave me one of the warmest smiles in the entire world. She convinced me I needed to come back. You must be mistaken. She's pretty tall for a lady. She's got long brown hair and beautiful brown eyes. She seemed so confident, and yet, when I mentioned why I left she seemed so sad..." Gill scratched his head.
"Lola was my mother, and I don't appreciate you making up stories like that." Gill said, stepping away from Angela.
"But, they aren't stories!" Angela said, "I promise you, she stood in my house right before you dropped off the suitcases. I mean, the dead thing would explain the disappearing bu-"
"Shut up!" Gill said furiously, "Just shut up!" Gill started to storm angrily down the road. But then he stopped, and turned back to Angela.
"I can understand the farming deal, but you've gone to far! Who put you up to this? My mother is resting six feet under the ground, and you tell me that she comes into contact with you? She doesn't bother to talk to her family. No, she would rather talk to some second rate farmer that knows absolutely nothing about her family!"Gill shouted, "Don't feed me any bullshit about loving the island. You've obviously done your homework. Well done. I'll take care of the farm because I love this island, but I want you the hell off of it!"
Gill stormed off into the distance. Angela couldn't feel her body. Her knees became weak and she fell onto her porch. Angela passed out.
"Angela...?" A soft voice whispered, "Angela, get up!"
Angela was in a lush green garden. She recognized it as the backyard of the mayor's house. Angela pushed herself up off of the ground and then saw Lola. Angela gasped and looked around.
"Am I dead?" Angela asked, "Are you really Gill's Mother?" Lola gave Angela a warm smile and motioned for her to sit down in one of the lawn chairs.
"You're not dead," Lola said in a soothing tone, "I've brought you here to tell you something very important."
Gill was almost into town when he realized that he had forgotten his house key on Angela's table. After having lost it on Tuesday, he figured it would be best just to leave it inside. Gill, still fuming, stormed back to the farm until he saw Angela passed out on the porch. His anger suddenly fled and was replaced by terror. Gill ran in to get his house key and, leaving Angela's door open, picked up Angela to take her to the Clinic.
"I can't do it anymore, Lola." Angela said, "He won't believe me. He'll shun me. Then when I go home, I'll have nothing again. When I get no news of the island, I won't be able to eat or sleep. There's no reason to live if I can't live here." Lola shushed her and laughed lightly.
"Oh Angela. From the moment you stepped on this island, I've been watching you carefully. I watched as this island turned from your escape into the one place you wanted to spend your life." Lola paused, "I watched you, just like I've been watching my son. I know he's stubborn, but he will come through. You are the one and only girl on this island I would ever give a blessing for Gill to marry." Angela smiled sadly.
"He wouldn't want me. He doesn't want me. He doesn't believe that I saw you. He says that you would have come to him." Angela said, starting to tear up, "I can't make him think any different."
"Oh honey," Lola said, "I've been with Gill in his heart. He can only see me for brief moments, and he refuses to believe. And what's this talk about no reason to live? There's plenty of reason to live. You are a strong girl, with a heart bigger than my own. You could live happily anywhere, whether it's here or across the sea. You're a legal adult now. Don't be afraid to just plunge in like you did a year ago. Renounce the money and live the way you want to live!"
"It would kill my family." Angela said, "I love them. I only have one life to see them. Who knows? One of them might fall sick, and then where would I be? Would I mourn at the very mention of the one who died? Would I lash out at everybody else?" Lola shook her head.
"They have money. They would visit. They would get the best cures, and if that doesn't work, you can spend the rest of their days with them and come back." Lola smiled, "This life is yours to live. It's time to start. Consciousness is calling. Oh! Don't forget to tell Gill what I told you!"
Angela woke up in the Clinic. It was very dark outside. Angela sat up slowly and looked around. There was a small bedside lamp beside her. She turned it on. Gill's sleeping face was illuminated. The words she needed to say were slowly fading from her mind. Angela looked around. She opened the bedside table drawer and found a pen and a piece of paper. She scribbled down the words and set the pad and pen beside Gill so that he would see it when he woke up. Angela turned off the light and snuggled back under the covers of the clinic cot. As the words faded away completely, Angela slept like a baby as Lola watched from above, smiling.
So yeah. Two years. It might have been a long wait, but I'm continuing the story now aren't I? :D