Chapter Text
Prologue
Dear diary,
I picked you up at a gas station next to where my bus broke down. I hope that isn’t a bad omen, but I think you might be a good one. You’re the most beautiful little book, with a green leather cover and a little lock and two keys. The lock reminds me of the diary I had when I was a little girl. My name is Jade, and my life is changing hugely and quickly, and a diary might be a fun way to document that.
The huge change actually started a long time ago, almost fifteen years. I was just seven when my grandpa died. I was devastated, because he was the only grandparent I’d ever known. He gave me a letter before he died, but I was seven, so my parents held on to it. Fast forward fifteen years, I graduated college with an art history degree and there weren’t any jobs in my field. I needed cash and wanted to move out of Mom and Dad’s house and in with my amazing boyfriend Tom. I got a dead end job working for Joja Corp. It was a nightmare. One day, after they’d fired my coworker for discussing her wages (which is totally illegal to fire someone for) I found Grandpa’s letter. Mom had given it to me after graduation. I opened it because I needed a pick me up. Instead,it was a way out.
Grandpa left me the deed to his farm, Leafberry, way out in Pelican Town by the Gem Sea. I was thrilled to have a way out of the city and my parents’ house and, most importantly, out of Joja Corp. I told Tom, ecstatic, because he could come with me. He’s been looking for a job for three years since he dropped out of college. It seemed perfect for us to go together. He was disappointed, though. His parents have been paying for his apartment and he can’t break the lease without costing them a lot of money. His lease is out at the end of spring, so I’m going ahead to get the farm started and see the old place, and he’ll move in when his lease is up. He said he wants to give Alexis, his roommate, a chance to find a new roommate. Overall, its a sweet deal, but I’m pretty nervous to be doing long distance, especially since Pelican Town isn’t exactly up to date technology-wise.
The bus taking me out there blew a tire, which was honestly pretty scary, but they fixed it in no time and it gave me the opportunity to buy you. You’ll just have to be my friend until I make new ones.
Speaking of friends, I met the mayor, his name is Lewis and he knew Grandpa, so did Robin, the town’s carpenter, who was also there. They were nice enough to air out the old cabin for me. It’s a rough place, and badly overgrown too, but it’s surrounded by forest and it’s beautiful. I’ve always loved nature, and I think there’s a special kind of peace to be had in the woods.
I hope it will be good for me,
Jade