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Chapter Text

Summer was coming to a close. With Autumn fast approaching, many townsfolk were preparing for the colder and darker months to come. Lewis had been putting more hours into working on his garden, and Pierre had been digging through his storage for the pumpkin seeds that were left over from last year.
The heat which had plagued the valley for weeks would soon be retiring for the season. By the grace of Jojamart’s air conditioning, Shane had not been too bothered by the heat. Even when not at work, he had usually been too drunk to care. Life went on, regardless of the season, and change never bothered him much.
On the last Friday of summer, Shane was carrying a delivery for the old man George, who lived at the blue house at 1 River Road. While Shane never usually agreed to do home deliveries, the order in question had only been a pack of Joja cola. He was also more than willing to make an exception for old George, given his inability to get the pack of Joja cola himself.
Shane rang the doorbell, but there came no sound. The doorbell must have been broken. He tried knocking on the old door. This, too, to no avail. George was no doubt at home, given that he hardly left the house, save for visiting the altar of Yoba every Sunday. But this was a Friday! Shane could even hear a sound coming from the open window of the news playing on the TV in the living room.
Shane tried the door, and it was unlocked. As it slowly creaked open he stepped into the entryway. A long corridor stretched out before him, and on both of his sides were two openings; one leading to the kitchen and one leading to the living room.
A voice could be heard coming from the living room, drowning out the low murmur of the TV. It was not the gentle voice of old George’s wife Evelyn, nor was it the harsh words of the man himself. It was someone else entirely.
The voice muttered in deep contemplation, before asking of the old man, “Turn around, please.” There came the sound of a wheelchair with squeaky wheels shuffling around.
“George, I’ll be honest with you. You need to make some changes in your lifestyle if you want to stay healthy. I’d like you to reduce your sodium intake, and try to get some moderate exercise with your arms.”
The old man humphed.
“I know what’s best for me. Who do you think you are, telling me how to live my life?”
“I’m your doctor, George, that’s who I am…” answered the other.
The doctor? Shane had seen him around town before. A short man who wore glasses, with unruly hair the colour of cherry wood. Come to think of it, Shane had occasionally seen him in the saloon, too. He would sit in the corner with his droopy moustache, always wearing that long green coat over a dress shirt with a red tie.
His name was Harvey, if Shane recalled correctly. Shane had not been as concerned with trying to learn all the names as he possibly should have been.
“I went to school for 8 years so I could learn how to help people stay healthy.” The doctor went on in an assertive manner, but spoke kindly.
Shane felt that he owed it to the two others to make his presence known. At the very least he could not remain in the entryway, listening in on their private conversation.
He entered the living room. There the doctor, in his green coat, stood by George, who was sitting in his wheelchair. He looked old and terrible as ever. They were both very startled to see Shane, the doctor most startled of all.
“Oh! I’m sorry, you shouldn’t be here. These check-ups are supposed to be private.”
“Not so fast,” interjected George. “I’d like to get a second opinion from this young man.”
The doctor sighed heavily.
“Very well. Shane, what do you think George should do?”
Shane had not expected that the doctor would know his name. Perhaps it was his duty to know the names of all his patients, but that did not make it any less surprising.
“He should follow the doctor’s advice,” answered Shane.
The doctor’s weary face was at once lit up and he smiled.
“Thank you,’’ said the doctor.
He turned his attention to George, once again explaining that he was just trying to help, and that he was a doctor.
“Fine,” muttered the old man. “I’ll do what you say.”
George was grumpy as ever, but the doctor seemed content with this. He approached Shane, steering him back out of the room with the help of a hand placed carefully on his upper back. Though he was grateful for Shane’s help, he was still strict on his check-ups being private. He thanked Shane once more in the doorway, lowering his voice so that George would not hear.
Shane answered that it was no big deal.
He left the pack of Joja cola on George’s kitchen counter and, going back to work, he was in high spirits. All throughout the monotonous work of stocking the Jojamart shelves, he was feeling quite content with himself for having helped the doctor out.
While Shane had never looked twice at the doctor before, what a difference seeing him smile had made!

On the following Sunday, which also happened to be the last day of summer, Shane headed down to the beach for the annual Dance of the Moonlight Jellies. It was local custom to watch as the Moonlight Jellies would pass by Pelican Town, before they continued on their long journey south. Pelican Town was but one stop of many, on the long course which the jellies took to flee the impending cold of the Autumn season. The Jellies were attracted to light, and would be lured close to the docks where the excited townsfolk were waiting to get a glimpse of the Dance.
Shane arrived about half an hour before the boat carrying the luring lantern was set to launch. He came together with Marnie and Jas, his aunt and goddaughter. All three of them had been living together for about a year now, ever since the death of Jas’ parents.
Jas would usually play with her friend, Vincent, but he was currently busy annoying his older brother, Sam. Jas watched the whole affair from afar. There were two sets of docks, and Sam, together with the rest of his friends, stood firmly on one of the docks, while the remaining townsfolk stood on the other. Shane stood next to Jas, keeping an eye on the little girl.
The air was thick with anticipation as more and more townsfolk gathered at the docks, but Shane could not focus on the upcoming Dance. He had been looking for the doctor, and could not find him anywhere on either of the two docks. This was made especially curious due to the fact that Shane had seen the doctor a few minutes earlier, back on the beach. Now the doctor needed to come quickly, lest he would miss the Moonlight Jellies!
Shane could simply not relax at the thought of the doctor missing the event. The Dance of the Moonlight Jellies had always been his favourite festival, and it still amazed him every single year. Surely the doctor would be just as sorry to miss it as he would be.
Marnie had been caught up in chatting with the townsfolk. When she finally came to stand together with Shane and Jas, Shane could excuse himself without having to leave Jas unattended. He went back to the beach in search of the doctor.
And sure enough, he found the doctor. He was heading back into town.
“Doctor!” called Shane.
The doctor spun around.
“The Dance is starting soon. Where are you going?”
“I… er— I don’t usually watch the Dance.”
Shane was dumbstruck.
“What do you mean ‘you don’t usually watch the Dance’?”
“I just never got around to doing it…”
“Well, it’s about damn time you do get around to doing it. Come on, they’ll launch the boat any minute now!”
The doctor looked hesitant, but Shane was growing impatient.
“Oh… alright.”
They arrived back at the docks just in time for Mayor Lewis’ to launch the boat. Marnie shot the pair a curious look.
Soon the small shine of the lantern had been lost somewhere between the waves. The sea was dark and cold.
Slowly the Moonlight Jellies approached. At once they glittered on the water’s surface like the stars glittered on the night sky. They produced a dazzling light which lit up the water, the air, the docks, and all the eyes that would bear witness to them.
Many townsfolk could hardly contain their glee, staring with their mouths agape, but Harvey was alone in seeing the Moonlight Jellies for his very first time. He watched them with the profound sense of wonder only a child can otherwise feel. He no longer had any memory of the darkness of night that had preceded them, and knew only the light which they brought.
Harvey did not even notice that Shane was looking at his face that was lit up by the Dance, instead of the Jellies.

Chapter Text

The following Tuesday began rather ordinarily. The doctor was sifting through the patient records, as he often did, that were neatly tucked away in his filing cabinet. He let his index linger by the file labelled ‘Shane’. It had only recently been added to the collection, and currently held no information on the man, except for his name. This would soon change, with his annual checkup looming on the horizon.
“Doctor?” asked Maru
The doctor was hunched over the cabinet’s bottom drawer, and had not heard the nurse coming. He did not know for how long she had been standing in the doorway to his office. His face reddened.
“Yes?” The doctor stood up to face the nurse, closing the drawer behind him. Her face was etched with concern, but the doctor did not yet know why.
“Abigail is here to see you.’’
There it was. To think that Abigail had slipped the doctor's mind! He understood the nurse’s concern, he was not usually the forgetful kind.
“O— of course! She’s here for her annual checkup, isn’t she?”
Maru did not reply and the doctor could not blame her for it. Though the doctor was in charge of keeping track of the annual checkups he had failed his job miserably. Maru had only by chance happened upon Abigail abandoned in the waiting room.
“I was just going through his— her medical journal.’’ The doctor would not have believed himself if he were Maru. “I’ll see to her right away.”
The doctor found Abigail in the waiting room, and together they went back to the examination room.
As always was the case with Abigail, the examinations showed that she was in perfectly good health. But being in good health did not render her incapable of finding other ways to give the doctor a headache.
“I‘m a bit worried about your ambitions with your sword. I’d suggest you… give up on those.”
The doctor hesitated, seeing Abigail’s disappointment.
“You must understand that it’s dangerous, unless you’re willing to learn how to actually handle the sword safely. There’s probably classes you can take for that sort of thing.’’
“It’s fine, I know what I’m doing.”
“What’s that thing on your arm, then?’’ retorted the doctor, motioning to a mostly healed wound spanning the length of Abigail’s upper arm.
“I scratched myself on a thorny branch up by the abandoned farm.”
“The— what?’’
Abigail was silent for a moment, not quite understanding which part of what she had said confused the doctor.
“A branch,’’ she repeated. “By the abandoned farm. Out northwest.”
“I was not aware that such a thing existed.’’
“It’s only been abandoned ever since that old guy who used to live there died. But that was a couple of years ago.’’
“Very well. But I’d still advise against using the sword.’’
Abigail groaned. The doctor figured that he had lost her attention.
“Can I go now?’’

Abigail left the clinic, soon to be followed by Maru, but Harvey worked until late in the evening. When he finally clocked out he headed upstairs into his apartment. He was too tired to change out of his work clothes, only hanging the green coat over a chair in his kitchen. He put his readymade meal into the microwave oven, still wearing a dress shirt and tie.
Harvey was so concerned with other people’s health that he often forgot to attend to his own. On late nights like these he felt the consequences of his neglect, as he mentally prepared himself for the accursed horror that was the Jojamart readymade meals. What was worse was that no one ever seemed to notice how his health had been declining. No one questioned why his under-eyes were darkening with the passing of each day.
Harvey had no one to look after him in Stardew Valley. He was all alone.
No one was going to hold his hand and walk him through everything that he did not yet know or understand. He was entirely on his own in his endeavour to get to know the valley and the town. Because of this, though the doctor had lived in Stardew Valley for years, did he only now decide that he really needed to get to know the valley.
The microwave sounded but Harvey was no longer hungry. He left his dinner in the microwave.
He went out on a nightly walk, feeling perfectly justified in doing so, for nighttime also happened to be the one time of day his conscience would allow him to skip out on work.
He tried to stick to the well-trodden forest paths, where he could comfortably assume that he would never be truly alone. There he thought he would run into squirrels, birds, or even the odd human.
He briefly thought of returning back home, but had a sneaking feeling that he would have trouble falling asleep if he did. And he found no use in lying in bed just to stare up at the ceiling.
Even if he had chosen to go home, just to stare at the ceiling, he would not have been able to do so in peace. Recently his mind had been troubled by one thought: Shane. Time and time again, Harvey would catch himself recollecting their two brief encounters. First at George’s, and then at the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies. On that second occasion Shane seemed to have been specifically looking for him, and he did not understand why.
This was a great cause of anxiety for him. Harvey had always been hesitant in befriending the townsfolk, for to him they were all his patients. And he was of the opinion that he could not be both a good friend and a good doctor. So he had chosen not to befriend then, due to the risk of the moral obligations that came with being a friend hindering his work.
This could conceivably be the reason as to why Harvey felt more inclined to be friendly with Shane than the other townsfolk. Shane was new in town, even newer than Harvey. Of course, Shane had been to Pelican Town before. Even in Harvey’s time living there Shane sometimes came to visit his aunt, Marnie. Although, since only a few months back, Shane had been living with his aunt and Jas full-time.
Because of this Shane had not yet taken on the role of being Harvey’s patient, and it became impossible for Harvey to compartmentalise him as one or the other; patient or friend. Shane was both.
Harvey’s time in Stardew Valley had made him very lonely. By his own volition he had become so isolated that he began ravenously hungering for the company of others. His work, his model aeroplanes, his radio — they had all become distractions from what he truly wanted, and none of them were enough to satiate his ever growing hunger.
On occasion, his hunger would rear its ugly head. The only relationship he did have in town was with his nurse, Maru.
One time Maru had asked, seemingly out of the blue, “Do you need anything, doctor?”
“Oh, no.” Harvey had replied, blushing, for he had realised why she had asked. “Pardon me, I didn't mean to stare—“
Maru blushed too. Harvey had often thought about the event afterwards, realising how this might have come across to her as flirting. In reality, the doctor made no distinction between Maru and the rest of the townsfolk, though he often got the impression that other people expected him to do so. His ravenous hunger could not be quelled by the nurse.
This particular set of circumstances, too, made Shane stand out to Harvey.

Harvey emerged out of the forest and into a clearing. A lake stretched out in front of him, pitch-black and bottomless in the dark. The surface was entirely still. A dense thicket encircled the body of water. A ragged pier cut through the black water. Upon it stood a man under the cover of night. Harvey was headed in his direction, feeling the familiar sense of relief that comes with finding another person out and about during the odd hours of night.
As he stepped onto the old pier the wooden plank beneath his foot let out a shrill creak and gave way under his weight. The doctor jumped, narrowly avoiding a wet disaster.
The man at the end of the pier laughed. Harvey saw only his eyes, and heard only his husky voice, but recognised him immediately.
“Up late, huh?” asked Shane.
Harvey mumbled in assent, approaching the end of the pier. Now that he had been spotted it was too late to turn back, no matter how much the thought of meeting Shane increased his heart rate. He actually felt relieved to find that the man was not just anyone, but specifically Shane. At this Harvey’s face felt especially hot.
“Here, have a cold one.” Shane offered him a can of beer.
“Thank you,” the doctor chuckled nervously. “This’ll do me a world of good. I think I’ve got a fever coming on. I feel all… hot.”
“That’s a shame.” Shane looked at Harvey curiously.
Harvey did not drink, he never had. But he could not refuse Shane’s offer. The cold beer would perhaps help soothe the peculiar hot sensation that had overcome him. Besides, he was better off drinking the beer than Shane was. Harvey knew that if he did not drink it now, Shane might save it for later.
Harvey felt the rush of suddenly being filled with a sense of purpose.
“Buh… life,'' said Shane. His words were slightly slurred.
Harvey was silent.
“You ever feel like… no matter what you do, you’re gonna fail?'' Shane sought Harvey's eyes. Though Harvey continued to look away, Shane was not deterred. ''Like you’re stuck in some miserable hole and— and you’re so deep in you can’t even see the light of day?'' Shane sighed heavily. ''I just feel like no matter how hard I try… I’m not strong enough to climb out of that hole.”
Harvey felt entirely out of place. He had been uprooted from what he knew: the clinic’s sterile environment, with him standing in front of the patient that was sat on the examination table. Now that the doctor stood eye to eye with the other, he could not find the strength within him to answer. And he felt that the other dearly wished to hear what he had to say, now more than ever.
“That’s… rough,” said Harvey. He downed the can of beer in a way he had not done since his teenage years.
A smile tugged at the corners of Shane’s mouth.
“Fast drinker, huh? Man after my own heart.” He then added, “Just don’t make it a habit. You got a future ahead of you still.”
Harvey smiled at the other.
“I wont.”
He could hardly fathom that his pathetic excuse for an answer might have been just what Shane had wanted to hear.
The two men fell into a comfortable silence and stared out across the black water They looked beyond the still lake’s surface at the wide expanse of the forest, where the tall evergreens stood guard. The evergreens watched the change, as they themselves remained unchanged.
“Well, my liver’s begging me to stop. Better call it a night. See you around,'' said Shane and left the pier.

Chapter Text

The following day it rained. Shane was spending his evening at the Stardrop Saloon, as always. Gus had been especially disobedient tonight, refusing to sell Shane any drinks. Shane knew that he shouldn’t have drunk those cans of beer before coming here, as Gus always did refuse to serve him when he was already drunk.
Shane sat by the corner of the bar. It was a shame that Emily wasn’t working tonight, for Shane wrongfully surmised that she would have given him a beer, due to being his friend, if she were here. In reality, not even Emily would have given Shane a beer, considering his drunken state.
The Stardrop was mostly empty, except for the regulars: Shane, Pam and Clint. The rain was too heavy for most people to consider walking to the Saloon worth their while. The rain often had a paralysing effect on Pelican Town, as the townsfolk preferred walling up inside their homes.
One person apart from the regulars was however undeterred by the rain. The doctor, Harvey. He came into the Stadrop dripping wet, hanging his green coat by the door to dry, before approaching the bar.
Gus was happy to see him. He had been dealing with Shane all evening, so well-mannered Harvey was a welcome change. But before Harvey even got the chance to order, Shane was sitting next to him.
“Let me buy you a drink”, he slurred, and Harvey could immediately tell in more ways than one that Shane was drunk. Firstly, the smell of alcohol on his breath. Secondly, his slurred speech. Thirdly, his forwardness. They had only spoken briefly by the pier last night, and now Shane was insisting on buying Harvey a drink. Shane was usually withdrawn, quiet. Harvey was intrigued by this new side of Shane.
“I don’t drink”, answered the doctor.
“What do you drink, then? Let me buy you a coffee.”
“A coffee would be nice.”
Shane ordered Harvey a coffee, not taking his eyes off the tired-looking doctor. Harvey’s pale hands closed around the cup, holding it close as he raised it to his lips, sipping on the piping hot coffee.
“Is it good?”
“Yes, very.”
Harvey was not used to the sort of attention that Shane gave him. Shane’s attention was as of yet no different than any other sort of attention, other than Shane’s attention simply being attention, rather than a lack thereof. Harvey was used to being ignored. But Shane was gazing at him intently, cracking jokes, laughing, singing and dancing. This was a whole other and previously unknown side of Shane, especially compared to who he had been last night. Harvey encouraged Shane. That warm feeling from last night persisted. Though Harvey was ashamed to admit even to himself that he liked the attention, the feeling that Shane was dancing for him and only for him, he did. He really liked it. At this point Shane was still comfortably inebriated, not excessively drunk.
The two of them had a good time. Harvey tried his best to make Shane laugh. This soon proved to be an easy task even for Harvey, who was no comedian, given that Shane was getting drunker by the minute. Gus had given in and served Shane another couple of beers, something which he soon came to regret.
By the end of the night Shane had gotten too drunk. Harvey was made slightly uncomfortable by this. He insisted on walking Shane home and was entirely uncompromising, all the while giving Shane a lecture on how drinking this much wasn’t healthy. Harvey had not yet come to realise the gravity of Shane’s drinking problem, and did not yet know the extent to which he had made excessive drinking a habit.

Come morning Harvey was sitting by the clinic's front desk. Shane was on Harvey’s mind, seeing as he was due for his check-up. But all Harvey could think of was last night. He considered Shane getting too drunk a slip-up, a one time thing, something which he could, and should, prevent from ever happening in the future. But a part of Harvey was beginning to realise that Shane had gotten drunk with such ease that it almost seemed a habit. Harvey quickly tried to forget the sneaking suspicion he had of Shane’s drinking habits, focusing on how much fun they had had, while Shane was still comfortably drunk. On the whole, he remembered last night, and Shane, fondly.
Maru, who usually worked the desk, was not working today. Thus, Harvey was the one who spotted Shane. He did not even give Shane a chance to state his case. The doctor was practically beaming as he beckoned to the man:
“Ah, Shane! I was just about to write you a letter.”
Shane approached the desk, hardly returning the smile. But there was no malice in this, he simply had not the energy that Harvey had, and Harvey understood as much.
“You see,” continued Harvey, “my records indicate that you’re due for your annual check-up!”
Shane fell into a hesitant silence at this, which only encouraged Harvey further.
“Now, now… there’s no need to worry. It’ll be quick and painless. Please, follow me.”
Shane sat down on the examination table. Harvey approached with a tiny, wooden tongue depressor in his hand.
“Hold still, please. Say ‘ahhh’…”
Shane obediently opened his mouth and said ‘ahhh’.
“Okay, you can stop.”
Harvey walked back to his cupboard, getting something else out. Now he held a stethoscope.
“I just need to check your vitals,” he said, returning. He put the stethoscope to Shane’s chest and appeared to be listening closely. His brow furrowed.
“Your pulse is high.”
Shane smiled slightly.
“I’m a little nervous…”
“Oh. Hospitals make you nervous, huh?” He lowered the stethoscope. “Just try and relax. I’m here to help.”
Shane found it hard masking his disappointment. And Harvey felt it, too. This was not about hospitals.
“Well, then!” Harvey’s musings cut through the silence. “Your vitals are fine. Just… cut back on the drinking.”
Shane swiftly rose from his seat. He had not intended to appear as vexxed as he ultimately did. Such was the fault of poor timing.
He saw in Harvey’s eyes a deep mistrust.
“Alright,” spoke Shane. “Thank you, doctor.”
He made his way towards the exit.
“Thanks for stopping in!” came Harvey’s voice, suddenly cheery from behind. Shane turned around to face the man. He gave a well-intended smile.

Chapter Text

Just outside of Pelican Town there was a little red-roofed and brown brick cottage, next to an even bigger red-roofed and brown brick building. The exterior walls were lined with potted plants and grass allowed to grow tall. Cows grazed a smaller fenced-in area outside of the larger building, which only housed the animals. But the smaller cottage still had enough room for a quaint shop, a smaller kitchen, three bedrooms, and some storage. There, on the ranch, lived Marnie, together with her niece, Jas, and her nephew, Shane. Jas was taken in at a very young age by her aunt Marnie, following the death of her parents. Owing to her still being very little, her godfather Shane was about thrice her size and age.
Harvey was making his way to the ranch for Jas’ annual checkup. The doctor didn’t usually do in-house checkups, with the exception of George. Ever since George’s accident, it had become much harder for him to go anywhere in town. The doctor, being relatively new to town, never knew Geroge before the accident. All he knew was the grumpy old man who demanded in-house visits. It had worked well, up until recently. Harvey was grateful that it was Shane who had intruded, and not someone else. Otherwise things could’ve gone south, and Harvey would never have been able to forgive himself for his mishandling of George’s case.
Yet, here he was, heading to another in-house checkup. What is worse is that the doctor found this in-house visit equally justified as the case of George. Jas was by nature an anxious girl, in one way taking after the doctor himself. The only difference being that, whereas Harvey took refuge in his work at the clinic to soothe his anxieties, for Jas the clinic was the very source of her anxieties. This left the doctor with no option but to authorise yet another in-house visit, because he would do anything to help the little girl who hadn’t always had it very easy.
As expected, when Harvey got to the ranch, he found Jas and Marnie in the kitchen. However, there was a peculiar tension in the air. Jas was more wide-eyed and fidgety than usual. Harvey would’ve chalked this up to anxiety over the check-up, if it were not for the fact that Marnie seemed equally concerned. In fact, the doctor was almost upset by this. Marnie, as Jas’ parental figure, should not show concern in connection to something that already brings Jas anxiety. She ought to be nothing but supportive. But, something about the way Marnie furrowed her brow in contemplative concern, told the doctor that the presiding tension had nothing to do with the check-up. It was evident even to the doctor, that something else, quite possibly entirely unrelated, was terribly wrong.
Marnie had barely noticed the arrival of the doctor. She stood up and, without a word, knocked on the door of Shane’s bedroom. This struck Harvey as particularly odd, for Shane is usually at work during this time of day.
Jas spotted the doctor, and her eyes darted from the doctor to where Marnie stood, as if she couldn’t decide which caused her greater anxiety.
“Shane?” called Marnie at the door. When no response came, she turned the handle and pushed the door open. She entered Shane’s bedroom, with Harvey who quickly came in tow.
Shane was passed out on his bedroom floor, surrounded by empty cans. He was sprawled out in a way that suggested that he hadn’t merely laid himself to rest on the floor.
“Oh dear…” muttered Marnie at the sight. She turned to Harvey with a pleading look. “Doctor, can you do something? He’s out cold.” The doctor approached the passed out Shane, who made a strange noise in his sleep. After a moment of contemplation, the doctor reached into his briefcase. He had brought a water bottle, which he promptly poured over Shane’s face.
Shane hardly stirred before he woke up with a start. He immediately got to his feet, being at once-wide awake. Or, at least his eyes were wide-open and bloodshot as if he had seen a ghost. This startled the doctor to the point that he took a step back.
“Shane! What’s the matter with you? All you do anymore is mope around your room and drink beer!” came Marnie’s shrill voice. Jas walked over to stand in the doorway of Shane’s room, from which she could both see and hear everything.
Shane turned around, showing both Marnie and the doctor his back.
“You wouldn’t understand,” muttered Shane. Marnie began saying something about her being worried, but her train of thought was cut short by Jas entering the room, silently shuffling up to Marnie’s side.
Marnie then continued, “What’s your plan? Don’t you ever think about the future?” she asked.
“Plan? Hopefully I won’t be around long enough to need a ‘plan’…” muttered Shane. The implication of the words were hardly allowed to sink in, before Jas let out a sob. Weeping, she stormed out of the room. Marnie looked to Shane with a look that could kill, before she quickly went after the girl.
Left was Shane, dumbfounded.
“I— I didn’t know…” he began tentatively. Shane hadn’t noticed Jas in the doorway. He looked to the doctor, and seemed mortified. The doctor offered him no sympathy. Shane fell onto his knees, burying his face in his hands. He trembled violently, in a way which looked like it ought to have hurt. A snivelling sob escaped him, closely followed by another. This is what finally made the doctor realise that he had overstayed his welcome.
Harvey left and ventured back out into the cold, being none the wiser of little Jas’ health. For that, he should need to come back on another day. What he had come to learn was that perhaps ailments other than those of the body needed more urgent attention in the case of this family — namely, the ailments of the mind.

Chapter Text

Harvey’s self-imposed isolation had worsened. He had been avoiding Shane like the plague ever since their last meeting. At first he could not go to Jojamart because Shane worked there, then he could not go to the Stardrop Saloon for fear that he might be there, then he could not go outside, for fear that he would run into him. The poor doctor could no longer pull back the curtains for fear that he would be visible through the window to Shane passing through the square outside.
On the Tuesday following the incident, which was an especially sunny day, Maru asked, “Why can’t we pull back the curtains? I liked my view of the square.”
Harvey had not the strength within him to tell her why.
“UVB rays, a contributing factor to the development of skin cancer, are able to penetrate glass panes. It’s best for the both of us that we keep the curtains drawn,” replied he coldly.
It was neither the truth nor a lie, although the risk of skin cancer had played a very small role in the doctor’s decision to keep the curtains drawn.
Nevertheless, the response put an end to Maru’s complaints.
Harvey was not at all disinterested in Shane, in contrast to what his actions may lead you to believe. Harvey cared very deeply for the man, and that was the root cause of his increased isolation. Harvey longed to see Shane, and this longing frightened him more than anything. Initially his avoiding Shane had been subconscious, until he had realised what he had been doing. The realisation had given him an even bigger fright, because he could not understand why Shane had such a profound effect on him.
A couple of days prior, during the incident which took place in Shane’s bedroom, Harvey had very suddenly realised that the feelings he held for Shane were of a very particular kind. When he had found Shane passed out on his bedroom floor, a sudden terror had seized him, for the simple truth was that Harvey could not bear the thought of losing Shane. The thought rendered him unable to think or to speak. He became an empty shell who could only bear witness to the terrible, and who was wholly powerless in any efforts to stop it.
The incident had finally opened his eyes. Harvey spent days in a dazed state of realisation of the fact that Shane had awoken something within him. The doctor felt an urge to cast aside their doctor-patient relationship; an idea which equally terrified him as it excited him.

Harvey wanted to get closer to Shane, at the same time as he wanted to stay as far away from the man as possible. On another of his many nightly walks, he entertained himself with the idea of the former option rather than the latter.
Autumn was fast approaching and the leaves were changing. The sun was setting earlier, and it began raining frequently.
Harvey was pulled from his thoughts by a sudden sound. Crack! He had stepped on an empty beer can. This was odd, for Harvey thought himself entirely alone in all of Cindersap Forest.
The grass was littered with cans. They reflected the moonlight. A rain began to fall, drumming against the metal. The cans led to a clearing, by the very edge of the forest. There, Harvey was just about able to make out a figure laid in the grass. Empty beer cans were scattered all around it.
The figure was large and dark, silhouetted against the horizon. It laid teetering on the edge of the sheer cliff that faced the sea. Its chest moved slowly up and down, taking long, rattling breaths.
Harvey moved hesitantly closer. He had instantly recognised that tattered blue jacket of the Joja corporation over the green polo shirt.
“Doctor…” Shane croaked. “I… I’m sorry.”
Harvey was torn. He was equally terrified and equally relieved to have found Shane. He did not even want to consider what might have happened, had he not found him. The resurgence of the fear of losing Shane made Harvey just about forget how he had been avoiding Shane for the days following the incident. Seeing Shane in this state was enough for Harvey to forget whatever fears he had of getting too close. Right now Shane needed Harvey, as much as Harvey needed Shane.
At the same time, Harvey was angry.
Shane laid face-down in the grass. Along with the empty beer cans scattered around Shane, there were even more cans that he had not yet gotten to drinking. Harvey was angry that Shane should behave so irresponsibly, when so many people cared for him so deeply. Marnie, Jas, Emily… and Harvey.
“M— my life is a pathetic joke. Look at me…” Shane was soaked, and Harvey could not tell the difference between his tears and the rain. “Why do I even try?”
Harvey was at length moved by the earnestness with which Shane spoke. An earnestness which was most unlike Shane and his usual tough exterior. This urged Harvey to approach his friend and kneel by his side.
Briefly, he did not care that he was muddying his pants. He was content simply being there with Shane.
Shane’s chest shook with a snivelling sob as his mind continued to race. He could not think clearly in his inebriated state. He saw all the faces of those he loved. Marnie, Jas, Emily. But there was also the face of the doctor right in front of him.
“I’m too small and stupid to— to take control of my own life”, continued he, and Harvey allowed him to speak uninterrupted. “I’m just a p— piece of shit—“ he was interrupted by a burp.
“Alright,” intercepted Harvey, “let’s get you out of here.”
“I’ve been coming here often lately,” continued Shane as if he had not heard the doctor. “Looking down. Here’s a chance to finally take control of my life… these cliffs…”
Silence.
Shane continued, “All I do is work, sleep and drink to— to dull the feelings of self-hatred.”
Utter silence.
Shane’s eyes glazed over.
Harvey’s heart ached for Shane. He wanted desperately to comfort him, but did not know how we would go about doing so.
Harvey had always had a feeling that Shane struggled with these thoughts. Never before had he expressed them so clearly. Even in his drunken state, he had a plan. The cliffs.
“Why should I even go on?” snivelled Shane. ”Tell me… t— tell me why I shouldn’t roll off this cliff right now…”
Harvey looked down at Shane and felt a rising sense of indignation.
“The decision is your own,” responded the doctor coldly in a moment of frustration, before adding, “Just know that I’m here for you.”
“Bullshit”, slurred Shane. “You’re not here for me. You wouldn’t even be able to understand what I’m going through…”
“I’m not saying that I understand. Maybe I won’t ever be able to understand. But I’m willing to try to understand, Shane. You’ve got to give me a chance.”
“I don’t even know why you’re trying. There’s nothing left for me, Harvey. I’m a lost cause. I should just—“ , another hiccup stopped Shane from uttering the unutterable.
“You can’t”, Harvey was quick to answer.
“Why not?”
Harvey fell into his typical habit of taking unusually long to respond, whenever he was perfecting his reply. He appeared thoughtful.
“Jas needs you”, said he. In this he was not being entirely honest, by way of omitting part of the truth. Jas was not entirely alone in needing Shane. “You’re like a father to her.”
Silence.
Shane avoided Harvey’s eyes. Harvey thought that Shane had finally understood, that he felt ashamed.
“I think you should take me to the hospital now,” said Shane eventually, instead of the expected apology.

Harvey took Shane to the clinic. He pumped his stomach and rehydrated his body. He also prepared a bed for Shane to stay in overnight.
The following morning Harvey woke up and immediately headed downstairs.
“Good morning”, said he.
No response. Harvey stood at the end of Shane’s bed.
“You’re going to be okay.”
Shane grunted.
“Too much alcohol is terrible for the body. But right now I’m more worried about your mental health. I know an excellent counsellor in Zuzu City who could really help you.”
“I’m not going to see a shrink.”
Harvey frowned.
“I know that life can be painful sometimes, Shane. But there’s always hope for a better future. You’ve got to believe in that. You’ve got to try, at least.”
Harvey turned and made for the exit, but stopped upon hearing Shane speak up again.
“You won’t be mad at me when I decide to do it, right?”
Harvey’s blood grew cold. He did not answer nor turn around.
“You’ll be able to forgive me, one day. Won’t you?”
“I’ll leave you the counsellor’s number. I advice that you call him.” said the doctor. “Then get back to me.”
He hurried out of the room.