Stop the feeling

Farm teachings

The morning sun cast its gentle rays over Stardew Valley, painting the landscape in hues of gold and green. As I hobbled towards the open fields on my crutches, the anticipation of the day ahead mingled with a sense of trepidation. Today was the day I would attempt to turn reluctant helpers into willing farmhands.

Haley, Sam, and Alex arrived, their expressions varying degrees of scepticism and indifference. Haley's disdain was palpable, her arms crossed defiantly as she surveyed the empty fields, her reluctance to participate clear.

"I can't believe I have to do this," Haley muttered, her voice dripping with disdain. "It's not like it's my fault you got hurt."

Sam and Alex, although less openly resistant, shared Haley's sentiments to some degree. The thought of spending the day doing manual labour on a farm was not high on their list of preferred activities.

"Alright, everyone," I began, trying to inject some enthusiasm into my voice despite the challenging circumstances. "Today, we're going to tackle some basic farm chores. We'll start with clearing the fields and preparing the soil for planting."

Haley rolled her eyes but begrudgingly picked up a hoe, her movements slow and deliberate as she half-heartedly followed my instructions. Sam and Alex, while more willing to participate, lacked the experience and skill, making the tasks at hand even more challenging.

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"Come on, Sam, you're holding the rake all wrong," I said, trying to offer some guidance. "You need to angle it more towards the ground to gather the leaves."

Sam looked up, a sheepish grin on his face. "Sorry, Y/n. This farm stuff isn't exactly my forte."

Alex, who had been struggling with a stubborn weed, chimed in with a smirk. "Yeah, and I thought being athletic would make this easier. Who knew pulling weeds could be so hard?"

Despite the initial resistance and scepticism, there were moments of levity and camaraderie. Sam's attempts at using a rake often resulted in more mess than progress, while Alex's enthusiasm sometimes led to overzealous efforts, causing more harm than good.

"Alright, team," I called out, trying to rally the troops as we moved on to repairing fences. "We need to make sure the land is tilled thoroughly.  

"Here, let me show you," I said softly, reaching for the hoe she was struggling to handle. Our fingers brushed against each other, the brief contact sending a jolt of unexpected warmth through me.

Haley's eyes met mine, a hint of surprise flashing across her face before she quickly masked it with a scowl. "I can manage," she retorted, her voice sharp but lacking its earlier hostility.

"I know you can," I replied gently, maintaining eye contact. "But there's a technique to it that might make it easier for you."

For a moment, Haley seemed to consider my words, her expression softening ever so slightly. "Fine," she conceded, relinquishing her grip on the hoe. "Show me."

As I adjusted her hand position on the tool, guiding her through the proper technique, there was an undeniable tension in the air. Our hands touched again, this time more deliberately, as I demonstrated the correct way to hold the hoe.

Haley's gaze shifted from the tool to our intertwined hands, her eyes widening momentarily before she pulled away, her face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and something else I couldn't quite place.

"Thanks," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I guess I've got a lot to learn."

I nodded, releasing her hand but maintaining the connection through our shared understanding. "We all do," I replied softly, our eyes meeting once more before returning to our respective tasks.

As the day came too a close  Alex, ever the gentleman, offered to help me back to the house. "Here, let me give you a hand," he said, extending his arm to support me as I made my way back on my crutches.

As we approached the house, Alex turned to me, his eyes filled with genuine concern. "You're doing a great job, Y/n," he said sincerely. "Despite everything, I think today was a step in the right direction."

I smiled, touched by his words. "Thanks, Alex. It means a lot."

Just as Alex seemed about to say something more, he flashed me a flirtatious smile, his eyes dancing with mischief. "You know, once you're back on your feet, maybe we could go for a run together? I could show you some of my favourite trails."

Before I could respond, a sharp cough interrupted us, pulling our attention towards Haley, who had just joined us, her expression sour. "We're here to help Y/n, not socialize," she snapped, her eyes narrowing at Alex. "Save your energy for the actual work."

Alex's face flushed with embarrassment, his flirtatious demeanour quickly replaced by a more subdued tone. "Right, of course," he stammered, his eyes darting to me briefly before he stepped back, giving me space to continue on my own.

Haley's intervention had effectively derailed the moment, her disapproval clear but her underlying concern for my well-being evident. As she stepped closer, I could see a hint of uncertainty in her eyes, a stark contrast to her earlier defiance.

"I'll help you inside," Haley said, her voice softer than before but still tinged with reluctance. "You shouldn't be pushing yourself too hard."

I nodded, grateful for the assistance but still processing the unexpected turn of events. As Haley supported me, her touch was gentle, her movements careful as she guided me through the door.

Once inside, Haley helped me settle into a comfortable chair, her expression thoughtful as she assessed my condition. "You need to rest," she said quietly, her tone lacking its earlier hostility.

I looked up at her, surprised by the change in her demeanour. "Thank you, Haley," I replied, my voice filled with genuine appreciation. "I know today wasn't easy for any of us, but I appreciate your help."

Haley hesitated for a moment, her eyes meeting mine in a moment of shared understanding. "You're welcome," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "Despite everything, I don't want to see you get hurt further."

The sincerity in Haley's words caught me off guard, her admission leaving me speechless as she turned and walked away, leaving me to reflect on the day's events 

As the evening settled in, the farmhouse was filled with a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the soft crackling of the fireplace and the occasional chirp of a cricket outside.