There were things that I hadn't had for many years. What would be many years? Around ten years, I guess? It could be more. It could be much more. The truth was that in my other life, I no longer felt time passing correctly. Everything happened so automatically that I had no idea about time anymore. In fact, time didn't matter anymore. And with everything that didn't matter, I left behind my birthday, Christmas, holidays, and the reasons for everything. Since childhood, I hadn't had a birthday party, and in the few I was invited to, it was as if my presence made little difference. I don't blame those who ignored me. No one ignored me more than I did myself.

That's why, opening the door and seeing a banner with my name stretched between two poles during the noonday sun was something magical.

"Owen Greenfield, welcome to Sun Skies!"

It was a small sentence on a cloth that seemed to have been used several times. The letters were colorful, and there were several colorful handprints, something that must have been done by children. It wasn't beautiful. It wasn't well done. But somehow, it was perfect. "Welcome to our town!" The chorus of people in front shouted this together, some out of sync. There were excited voices, others disheartened, and a few timid and hidden. But most importantly, they were all here for me. That was good. That was wonderful.

At the front of everyone was Mayor Preston, who approached with his hat in hand and soon put his arm around my shoulders, bringing me closer to the others.

"Look, young man, there's nothing I admire more than someone who works hard! But I must say, everything has a limit! This party was supposed to be for someone healthy and strong, not for a guy who worked himself to death."

Despite the scolding, he didn't seem angry. Somehow, I could tell he was proud of me. As I approached the other citizens, I quickly realized who they were. I knew all of them, but seeing them like this in front of me was something entirely different.

"Is that the crazy farmer?"

"Lina, don't say that!"

Lina, one of the few children in town. She was always around playing and running while her best friend, and also the other child in town, Daniel, tried to keep her in check.

"But he worked until he passed out! If he lay in bed all day like Daddy, he wouldn't be like this."

"Lina!" Daniel reprimanded her again.

Hearing them like that made me laugh. It was how I imagined them. That little girl with very black hair and cheerful brown eyes alongside that little boy with glasses and curly brown hair. A duo that really matched.

"And is this how you talk about your dad?" said the man who ran forward, shaking the girl's hair. "Sorry for my daughter's lack of manners. She's one of those kids who gives you trouble all day."

Lance, Lina's single father. A tired-looking man who worked nights making bread for the local bakery, and therefore slept during the day. He was a tall man, with strong arms and a deep gaze. In the game, he was one of the romantic rivals, something I don't want to experience in this game.

"No problem at all. She's absolutely right; I was completely crazy to work until I passed out," I said, crouching down to be at Lina's height. "Nice to meet you, Lina! My name is Owen Greenfield, and I'm the crazy farmer who arrived yesterday."

She stared at me in surprise and soon gave a shy smile, affirming a bit timidly, "Hey, this is not fair..."

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Daniel's voice next to her showed me everything I needed to know. He was jealous. Childhood things, apparently.

"And you must be Daniel, right?" I said, turning to him. "My grandfather told me about a very smart boy who loves reading interesting things. Is that you by any chance?"

This time, he became shy, affirming without saying anything, hiding behind Lance's legs. I stood up and then spoke to Lina's father to set things right from the start.

"Hello, you must be Linus, right? My grandfather told me that the best bread is from Sun Skies, and that's thanks to you."

He looked at me with a hint of confusion at first, but then shook my hand in greeting and gave a confident smile.

"Just from Sun Skies? No, my friend, my bread is the best in the region. Family recipe, you know? Today, I'll make you one of the best breads you've ever eaten in your life."

As I greeted him, I heard the voices of the other residents whispering. They talked among themselves, but they weren't very good at being discreet.

"Look at that friendly guy..." said Saul, the bakery owner.

"And handsome..." continued Samira, his daughter.

"A bit skinny for someone who takes care of a farm, isn't he?" said Josh, the lifeguard.

"The clothes are so out of fashion," remarked Amber.

"He reminds me so much of Nick..." said Mrs. Daisy.

"Yeah... really reminds me of that stubborn old man," replied her husband, Denis.

Some other voices spoke, and even though they weren't many people, they were more than I was used to. They came towards me, almost surrounding me, and I soon felt squeezed from all sides and almost breathless.

"Can you give Owen some space, please?"

In the midst of them, and coming forcefully, was Isabelle, who with her strong arms quickly grabbed mine and pulled me away, running off with me. The residents stayed behind, looking at us as we went away, and all that remained was the voice of the mayor, echoing in the distance.

"Isabelle! Bring him by tonight, at least!"

We both ran for a while until we got close to my farm. It was almost ten minutes of running, but I didn't feel tired. In fact, I was doing very well. My energy hadn't dropped at all, and I felt really good, but it was time to stop running.

"Isabelle, I think that's enough..."

She seemed to wake up only at that moment. When we stopped running, she turned to me, and her bright, large green eyes matched the grass and lively trees around. She was angry, but I couldn't take my eyes off her face.

"Owen, what the hell is going through your mind?!" She poked my chest with her finger, which hurt a bit. "You just arrived, and you already want to work yourself to death?! What if I hadn't come sooner?! You could have gotten sick! You... you..."

Tears filled her eyes. After so many years, someone was crying for me. This feeling was nostalgic. But still, it wasn't fair. Her care for me wasn't real. I wasn't her childhood friend. I was someone else who had awakened here, and who might leave very soon. Nothing was certain.

Still, I gently placed my hand on her hair and stroked it to calm her. She cried. She was worried. She wanted the best for me, and I wanted her to be okay too.

"I'm sorry, Isabella. I made you worried, didn't I?"

Suddenly she punched my chest, which made me lose my breath a little and step back a few steps. She didn't do it with malice, and in fact, she didn't even use much force. Isabella was just too strong.

"You idiot! Idiot! You do these things and don't answer my letters and calls! I waited for you for so long! I really waited all this time, just like you asked me!"

That was the story of the game. My friend who played with me in childhood and waited for me because of a promise. I didn't live this life. These were just cutscenes I saw at the beginning of the game. What was just a few scenes for me was something real and very important for her.

"Isabella. I don't know if it's sensible, but we need to talk. There's something important I need to tell you."

She had already stopped crying, just giving small sobs. But hearing me say that, she looked at me with curious eyes and somehow quickly understood that I was serious.

"So let's talk, but not here."

She held my hand again and pulled me, but carefully this time.

"Let's talk before the evening event."

That confused me. I didn't remember any evening event on the second day of the game.

"What event?"

She stopped walking for a second and looked at me strangely.

"Your welcome party, of course. Everyone's making some good food to eat tonight, and you're coming!"

A welcome party with food? That wasn't in the game, but I guess not everything had to be like the game. Isabella pulled me again, and I soon felt a seriousness in her that I didn't expect. Indeed, she took what I said very seriously.

"But first, we're going to talk. I want to hear what you have to say."