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Small petals fell out of your mouth. They were choked out of your lungs, the taste of blood evident in them. That almost made you puke more. The taste, all of the sensations, were beyond undesirable. You’ve never felt this miserable in your life.
After fifteen minutes or so, it was over. The last petal fell to the bowl. Drops of blood were in the water, on your hands. You felt like you could faint. You probably could. But you had to get yourself together first. As nauseous and freaked out as you felt, you had to remain calm.
Harvey. You needed to see Harvey. He’ll know what’s up. You had time to pull yourself together before his clinic opened. You cleaned the scene around you and began to get yourself ready. First, you brushed your teeth to get this awful taste out of your mouth. You ate breakfast, threw on some clothes, and wasted a couple hours away on the farm.
Before you knew it, it was 9 AM. Slipping off your boots and putting on some more comfortable shoes, you headed to Harvey’s. You were worried what Harvey might think, since you pretty much only go there unless somethings seriously wrong. You’re much too stubborn to ask for help half the time, so he might have a little surprise.
You got to the Clinic before you knew it. Opening the door nervously, you were met by a surprised Harvey.
”Hey, farmer. Is it your monthly appointment? I thought you already had one.”
”No. It’s not.”
”Oh! Well, do you mind signing in for me?”
You took a pen and paper, filling out the information. It was hard to focus when you felt the most nervous feeling at the bottom of your stomach. You didn’t even hand it to him until five minutes after you were done, zoned out.
“Alright. Can you come back with me now?”
You nodded and followed him. You reached a simple doctors room. You sat on little bed, while he sat by a computer.
“What seems to be the problem? You usually um… don’t do this.”
You couldn’t even look him in the eye, anxiety just taking over you. “You see… this um, really weird thing happened this morning.”
”Yes, go on…?”
“I, um, you see, I…” You couldn’t seem to get the words out, because it didn’t even feel real. “I puked petals.”
”I’m sorry. Come again?”
”Petals. Like, flower petals. I woke up and I felt sick. As soon as I reached the toilet, petals and blood just came pouring out.”
”Oh my.” Harvey turned to his computer, typing away. “Yes, I’ve heard of that once before. I never thought it’d reach Stardew Valley though…”
”Am I dying?”
”No, no you’re not dying. Well um… not quite.” Harvey’s tone changed as he read something on his screen.
”What? What’s that supposed to mean?!” You lashed out.
”Hey, no need to yell, okay? It’s okay. I’m going to explain of course. You might just not believe me.”
You looked at him apologetically.
”Is there someone in your heart? Someone who you love, but in a different way then the rest of your friends?” He asked.
You went pink. “Wh… What does that have anything to do with this?”
”Because it’s the cause of this.”
”How?”
”You’re likely suffering from Hanahaki Disease. It is a genetic but rare illness. It causes you to vomit petals, and eventually, full flowers and vines. It occurs when someone loves someone, but they don’t know how they feel about them back.”
”And how am I supposed to cure said disease?” You couldn’t believe what he was saying, but you had to know.
“Well, find out how they feel, of course. If they feel the same, the disease should die down… if they don’t, and you can’t stop loving them…” He paused.
“If I can’t stop loving them…?”
”You could succumb to the disease.”
”Oh my god,” There was no way. There had to be another option.
”I can provide you with painkillers and cough medicines. But I am unable to do much more.” Harvey said, a frown on his face.
All you could do was nod. You felt like a walking zombie.
“Let’s get you checked out.”
Harvey walked back out to the front counter with you, grabbing capsules from somewhere under the desk. He wrote a doctors notice on it.
“Thank you.” You sounded meek.
”Any time.” Harvey gave you a gentle smile.
He handed you the bag, and you stepped out. What we’re you going to do? You knew who you loved. But you’re not sure if you could ever muster the courage to tell him. He was so perfect. You were so… not. A man like him could never look at you in the way you look at him.
Oh, Elliott. Why do I love you so? You thought.
You couldn’t tell him you had the disease. Because if you told him how you felt, he’d be pressured into saying he felt the same. That’d be wrong. But you also would feel horrible hiding it from him, pretending like you were okay when in reality you could die. That was scary.
Well, if you were going to die, you wanted to spend some moments with him before then. Try to look at the brighter side of things. You stuck the medicine in your book bag and headed down to the beach.
You knocked upon reaching Elliott’s door. He opened it, smiling sweetly when he saw you. “Farmer. What a delight,” He gestures for you to come in. You sat on his bed while he sat at his desk. “How have you been?” He asked.
“Oh, same old same old,” You pretended to sound annoyed.
“Ah, I can say the same,” Elliott sighed.
You tried so hard to focus on Elliott, but you kept zoning off. All you could think about was this stupid disease.
”-er? Farmer? Are you okay?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, I’m fine,” You assured him. “Just didn’t sleep well last night.”
”Oh, I understand. Please try and get some rest tonight.” He had this cute look of concern on his face that made your heart flutter. You blushed a little.
”Th-thank you, you too you know. You work so hard on that book, you really have to take some time to relax,”
”Sometimes I try too, but to no avail. I’m just rather focused on getting this done.”
”I feel ya, man. But you know your well being is top priority.”
“I greatly appreciate you feeling that way. I quite like these talks we have.”
You giggled, “Me too Elliott. Me too.”
You slid off his bed. “I have some crops I think need tending too. See you later?”
”Of course.” He opened the door for you.
”Thanks,” You slid your bookbag back over your shoulder and headed back to your farm. Man. You really were falling for him. You just couldn’t help yourself. He’s so enchanting, the way he talks. You’ve never met a guy like him.
When you reached your farm, you decided to go mining. You started on the 90th floor, steadily making your way down. These monsters are extra feisty tonight, you thought.
By the time you reached the 100th, you were out of breath. “Maybe… a little… too feisty…” you mumbled. You’ve never been like this. What’s gotten into you? Where did all your strength go? You headed to the elevator early. The walk home today felt… almost shameful.
As soon as you got into bed, you collapsed.
This morning was a repeat of last. As soon as you got up, you rushed to the bathroom and threw yourself over the toilet. This time, the petals were coming out in clumps, rather than singles. That made you panic. You forced yourself to hurl more, trying to get everything out of your throat. You thought you might just die right now from asphyxiation. Yet, you didn’t. Once it was all over, you immediately went to take your painkillers, yet you couldn’t find them. Had you misplaced them?
Whatever you did with them, it wasn’t important. Today was to be like any other day. After cleaning the mess of petals, you brushed your teeth, but didn’t eat this morning. You didn’t have the appetite too. You got dressed idly, looking even more unkept than normal. Throwing on your boots, you went to start farm work. Watering your crops, feeding the chickens, getting the eggs. That little bit of work felt like a month’s worth. You pushed forward, you always did. Gathering the mushrooms, milking the cows, going to Marnie’s to buy more wheat. All the little things felt like so much. Today was a beautiful day, and yet your heart ached so. You hated this feeling of weakness, so you did more today than usual days, just to prove to yourself you still could. Catching more fish, going deeper in the mines… you wouldn’t be satisfied until you did.
Eventually, night fell. As tired as you were, once you laid in bed, you couldn’t fall asleep. After hours of tossing and turning, you tiptoed to the ocean. You sat yourself down in front of the water, pulling your knees to your chest. Elliott’s house was nearby because it almost made you feel safe, as if it was watching over you like a guardian.
Waves crashed in from the shore, and you just let them. Confidence. All you need is the confidence to tell Elliott. By the time you were ready to tell him, you’d be dead. This morning was hell. You can’t imagine it being any worse. You had to do this, and soon. What were you supposed to say? What words could even begin to depict the way you felt about him? There wasn’t any. Even if you do it, what are the chances he’ll feel the same? Realistically, slim to none.
“Farmer,”
A gentle voice broke you out of your haze.
“Elliott,” You spoke at almost a whisper.
“Mind if I sit with you?”
“Not at all,” you smiled and pat the sand beside you.
“Why are you up so late?” He asked.
“I just couldn’t sleep.” You yawned, “I could ask you the same question though.”
“That makes two of us, then.” He looked to you. “Ah, that reminds me. I think I may have something of yours.” He reached from his pocket, taking out a pill bottle.
“My painkillers,” You reached to take them from him. “Thank you so much!”
“Anytime.”
There was a long moment of silence between you two. All you could think about is how you wished you were his. How you longed to take his hand from the sand and intertwine it with yours, to lay your head on his shoulder and to kiss his cheeks over and over. He was right beside you, yet he seemed so far, like you tried so hard just to reach him yet you never could. It was hard to appreciate this moment with him when all you wanted was more. Suddenly, it hit you.
“What time is it?” You asked.
Elliott checked his watch. “12.”
“Oh, shit,” You stood up in a panic. “I think I’ve got to get going.”
Elliott stood up too. “Want me to walk you home? It’s a little dark.”
“If… If you don’t mind,” You should’ve said no. You felt rude. But more time with Elliott? You couldn’t say no.
“Of course I don’t. Let’s go, miss,” He lead the way.
You felt so safe. Safer than maybe you ever have. “Elliott?” You spoke lowly, soft.
“Yes?”
“Thank you. For um, everything. You’ve showed me so much kindness, I don’t think I could ever pay you back.”
“There’s no need to thank me.” Elliott had a little grin on his face. “None at all.”
“Well, I want to thank you. So accept it.”
“Ah, if you say so. You’re welcome,”
You smiled. You were almost at your house. Once you got there, you thought he’d drop you off at your farm’s entrance, but instead, he walked you to the door. “Goodnight, Elliott.” You said.
“Goodnight, farmer.”
You hugged him goodbye, and off he went. Your heart fluttered. You felt giddy as you drifted off to sleep.
You couldn’t even make it to the bathroom this morning. You leaned over and hurled. There was whole flowers. Your mouth tasted like pure iron. It felt like it went on forever. Pain was in every inch of your body, so bad you begun to cry. You sobbed and sobbed and didn’t even stop when you stopped throwing up. Your throat burned. You rushed to take a painkiller. Until it started to kick in, you just cried and cried.
There was no you getting any work done today. You wanted to force it, but as soon as you stood up from bed you felt dizzy. After cleaning the mess, you went outside to check the mail.
" Today’s Stardew Valley’s bingo night. The event will last from 10-12PM, held at the Stardrop Saloon. Dress nicely! We hope to see you there.
- Mayor Lewis. "
Fuck. Well, there goes your plans for doing nothing. Resting until late tonight seemed like a good idea anyway. You walked back inside, passing the kitchen. You hadn’t ate in who knows how long. You couldn’t stomach food right know, even if you wanted too. Plopping in your bed, you watched T.V. until 9PM.
Once nine rolled around, you jumped out of bed. You first brushed your teeth, then took a shower, then hair and makeup. You wore a cutesy tight gown, and short heels. You like getting dressed up, because it always surprises people. You made yourself a cappuccino to get throughout tonight. You looked so very pretty, but felt so very dead.
Though it hurt because of the heels, you headed to the saloon. Everyone was there. Was this really a big thing? You quickly spotted Elliott talking to Leah. Jealousy burned in your stomach, even if they were just talking. You walked up to the counter. “Give me two Alice In Wonderlands,” You asked. Gus made them and handed them to you. Just as you downed them, Mayor Lewis began speaking.
“Everyone, to a table. It’s time for bingo!”
Everyone sat went to sit down. You sat beside Elliott, who had Leah on his other side.
“Alright. We all know the rules of bingo. I’ll be checking the winners board to make sure no cheating occurs,” Lewis says loudly. “Each board has animals on it. First person to have four animals in a row wins. Everyone ready? Awesome. Okay, first animal is a bird.”
You had a bird straight in the middle. You looked to Elliott and giggled.
“Have anything to drink?” He asked.
“Whaaat? No, never.” You said sarcastically.
“Next. Monkey.”
You didn’t have a monkey, but Elliott did. “Aww, no fair.” You whined.
“Next, a giraffe.” Mayor Lewis said.
You had a giraffe right next to your bird! Elliott had a giraffe, but it wasn’t near his other one.
“Next, a fish,”
You didn’t have a fish. Elliott had two in a row now, like you.
“Next, a deer.”
Now you had three in a row.
“Next, an elephant.”
You didn’t have one.
“Next, a pig.”
You had one, but it wasn’t by the other three.
“Next, a panda.”
You had four across now. You raised your hand. “Bingo!”
Mayor Lewis walked over. “Bird, giraffe, fish and panda. Farmer wins the first round!”
After a few more rounds of bingo and a lot more drinks, the event was over. While you were inside, it started pouring down rain. Thunder and lightning struck, winds were a little high. You walked outside with Elliott, who immediately grabbed your hand. “We really have to go,” He said.
You let him speed walk away with you. You reached the beach in no time. “Elliott,” you said a little firmly.
“Yes? Ah, I’m sorry for dragging you away like that, I just want to make sure you don’t get hurt-“
“Can we dance in the rain?” You just blurted it. But you didn’t care, because this was drunk farmer.
“It’s dangerous,” he said, blushing.
“Please?”
“…I can’t tell you no.”
And so you did. Jellyfish were glowing in the water. The rain pounded on you two, and you were beyond soaked. Yet he slid his hands on your waist and you put your hands on his shoulders. In front of his cabin, you danced.
“Elliott, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.” He twirled you.
“Yes?”
“I think I love you.”
He pulled you close right then, your faces merely inches apart. “What kind of love?”
“More than friendship love.”
And there, he kissed you. It was a long kiss. You weren’t entirely sure what you were doing, but you were happy. The taste of alcohol lingered but neither of you cared.
“Farmer, I’ve been wanting to do that for a while.”
You smiled wide. “Can we continue this inside?”
“Of course, love.” He lead you inside. He gave you a pair of his clothes, because yours were soaked. You changed in the bathroom, then so did he. Before you knew it, you were passed out on his bed.
When you woke up, there was no flowers or blood. There was just Elliott, who held you tightly in his arms. Everything, finally, felt alright.