With Padraig gone I decided I shouldn’t go after the boar. His strategy only worked with two people after all. With that thought I walked back towards the town. As I walked, I looked at the clock, hovering in the corner of my vision. It was getting late. I noticed that the sun was also going down in game. I paused and swiped, bringing up the menu. Maybe I should also log out.

I stared at the button for what felt like an eternity. Did I really need to log out? Did I really have to go back to that dreary world? I shook my head and closed the window. They said they would take care of my body. I didn’t actually have to be there. I took a deep breath. Besides this world was better for me anyway.

I continued my walk, watching the moon rise and the stars shine. I could feel the chill of the night on my skin. I heard the sounds of other players fighting, hunting late at night. Eventually I made it back to town. It hadn’t changed much from this morning, except for the streets seemed emptier. I glanced around, looking for a sign. After a few glances I saw it, an Inn. I made my way in and opened the door.

The smell of food wafted through the air as I entered the room. It was bustling and seemed full of life, which is why it shocked me when I noticed a very important detail. Not a single other person in the room was a player. I stood frozen; it was difficult to comprehend. Most games NPCs were lifeless robots, but these, these seemed alive.

“Young lady are you a statue or human?” I nearly jumped at the call. I looked around and noticed the innkeeper looking at me. He waved me over. “We got a seat open up here if you are looking for food.” I walked over and slid into the seat at the bar, feeling a little embarrassed at getting called out. He placed a jug in front of me. “So what is a miss like you doing here? You adventurers don’t entertain these establishments without something in mind.”

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I picked up the jug and drank some. It tasted of apple, yet sharp. I coughed slightly. “I wanted to find a place to sleep.” He raised an eyebrow at me, clearly not believing me. I didn’t blame him, players didn’t sleep, they logged out. “I don’t want to sleep in the woods so I thought that you might have a spare bed.” I took another drink, hoping to hide my nervousness.

There was a metallic clink. I looked down at the counter and there was a set of keys. “Up the stairs first room on the left.” He smiled at me. “You wouldn’t also happen to want dinner, would you?” I silently nodded and he turned and went back to the kitchen. I settled into my chair, nursing the jug. It wasn’t long before I had a plate of food in front of me.

I prodded at it uninterestedly. I knew it was fake. That being said everything else had felt real so far, so there was a chance this would as well. I moved the vegetables on the plate around, before finally giving in and spearing one. I lifted it up and smelled it. Like everything else it had a real scent. I then took a bite, and almost spit it across the table. It was burning hot. After several gulps to cool my mouth I tried again, this time taking care to blow on it. It tasted like actual food.

The meal had been nice, but the bed was bliss. After I had finished, I followed the innkeeper’s instructions and made my way upstairs and found the room. It was spartanly decorated but it seemed homely. I had immediately thrown myself on the bed and curled into the sheets. It wasn’t as comfortable as the beds in the hospital, but at the same time it was better. I felt free to enjoy life.

Many thoughts flew through my head as I laid there in bed. My first day away from the hospital. I had gone on an adventure, however brief it was. It was something that I never expected to be able to experience. And yet here I was. I had a whole world in front of me. I turned on my side, looking out the window at the moon. It was a beautiful sight. For the first time I could feel hope. The hope of something leading me into a future. I smiled to myself as my eyes closed. I felt like I could make this place my new home.