Spring- Day 1

"A clear sky. A bright sun. Friends and a loving family. That's what I wish for you, my son."

These were my father's last words to me, and like pitch, they clung to my soul and mind in a way that seemed they would never leave. I couldn't respond to his wish. I couldn't say that I could be happy. I couldn't be honest. I was afraid of being punished for my honesty.

And how could I say anything? How could I blame him for my mother leaving us because of his drinking? How could I say that if he hadn't drunk and driven, he wouldn't be stuck in the hospital hooked up to so many machines? That I couldn't finish college and had to be humiliated and work almost without sleep to pay the hospital bills? How could I say that I suffered because of him? What kind of son would I be if I said that?

And now he wishes for me to have a good life? That's no longer possible. I don't have anyone anymore. Those words won't make my soul lighter. No... they will sink me into the ground like very heavy boots. Every time I look at the cloudy and gray sky, I will remember that I should be happy. I will remember that, and the pain will become unbearable. So, one day, I won't be able to endure it anymore.

"And may you have a good life after death, father..."

In the end, I said what a good son would say. He hadn't heard. He hadn't been hearing well for a few years. But somehow, I saw a smile on his lips. It was small, simple, something that could be lost on anyone, but not on me. He smiled, and that made me a little lighter. At least in the end, that man's suffering would end. But mine... mine would still last for some time.

And as if I didn't belong to the world, the years passed. The world raced with its cars, honks, people in suits, gray ground, and concrete sky. Everything was too fast, and slow people like me weren't noticed. People like me were just background characters so real protagonists can exist.              Money was too little. It barely paid the rent for my small room, and little was left for instant noodles. Days of hunger, nights of bitter sleep. Sometimes, I found myself looking at old pictures, where I smiled with my parents. I missed them, but I didn't have the strength to cry anymore. If something in my body told me to work and live, maybe it was the promise of a clear sky with a bright sun.

Another year, and I was losing a few pounds. I felt sick, and even the manager's scolding for dropping heavy boxes during the move didn't affect me anymore. He was going to fire me. It would be the fifth dismissal in eight months. The eviction notice rattled in the wind on my door, and money for food was almost nonexistent. But when there was no reason for me to smile anymore, that's when I found an old floppy disk of my father's.

The disk was under his old suitcase, which I hadn't touched since his death. It brought back some sweet memories. I remembered when I was younger, and my father worked for a game company. Those were happy days when everyone smiled. In those days, he dreamed of his released game. A game that was stolen from him. Then came the dismissal, the lawsuits, the defeats, everything.

With what little strength my body still had, I rummaged through my father's things and pulled out his old computer case, carefully removing everything and dusting off the years of grime. After installing everything carefully and taking a deep breath with some trepidation, I turned on the old computer. At first, it didn't work. The screen just stayed black. And when I thought about giving up, the image of the old operating system appeared on the screen.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I allowed myself a laugh. I used to draw on that old computer and play very old games that my father brought. Now, I would see what was on that floppy disk. It was almost certain that there was nothing special, but I had nothing to lose.

I inserted the disk, and it worked immediately, showing a file of a pixelated sun in bright yellow. I double-clicked, and as the computer opened, it was at that moment that I saw the title of what had been my childhood.

"My Life at Sun Skies"

A calm 8-bit sound, an initial screen with a bright sun in a blue sky. It was a farm game where you had to take care of an abandoned ranch your grandfather had given you, making friends with the villagers and even starting a family with children and all. A calm life.

And like when I was a child, I played my father's game. For a few hours, I planted, chopped wood, mined, made friends with the villagers, and was happy. That game warmed my heart. Spending that time in that small village finally made me relax, and soon all the fatigue and sadness I had hidden in my chest seemed to come at once. A tear ran down my face illuminated by the computer screen in that dark room. I finally smiled without restraints. I finally saw something that was worth it.

"Dad... I saw the sky and the sun you made... and they were beautiful..."

Fatigue enveloped my body like a warm blanket on a cold day. Not like sleeping. In fact, I don't know if I really slept or just left this world. I was just tired. I just wanted to sleep and wake up in a place where I could be happy.

.

.

.

The rooster's crow filled my room, and the sunlight escaped through the curtain, illuminating my face, making me open my eyes. Despite the heavy sleep, I woke up refreshed and soon sat on the bed. With a stretch, I noticed that my body didn't ache as usual. In fact, I felt stronger and more capable. With a long yawn, I looked around calmly, and soon, I noticed something that left me confused.

"What's happening here..."

I was in a kind of old cabin, with poorly laid wooden floors, a fireplace of worn stones, a table and a chair that had seen better days, and a slightly open window with a torn curtain swaying in the wind.

At first, I didn't react. I sat looking around without understanding much. In the second moment, I stood up and walked around the house, being careful with the creaking floor under my weight. I allowed myself a light slap on the face and a small pinch on my arm, which hurt as expected.

"Is this really what I'm thinking?"

I turned to the old, very worn wooden door and put my hand on the handle, but didn't open it. Tension ran through my shoulders, and a fear of what I might see tightened my heart. It was then that I did what I always did in these situations.

"Breathe deeply, shake your shoulders, hold your breath, and go!"

I opened the door and was met with a daylight that took my vision at once. Everything was very clear, and the warm wind took my hair like a caress. It was then that I saw.

"Oh my God..."

The clear sky, very blue, the strong sun shining and inviting me to the day, the smell of earth and freshness, and a plot completely covered with bushes, trees of all sizes, and rocks in front of me. It was then that something appeared before my eyes. They were curved letters, like the title of something, floating in the sky in front of me.

Welcome to Sun Skies!

Say your name:

Say the name of your Farm:

I didn't know if this was a dream or if I had died. I didn't care about any of that. In front of me was a beautiful and new world to live in and this time I wouldn't be a background character.

"My name is Owen Greenfield, and my farm will be called Sunset!"