(This story is inspired by me and my love for Stardew Valley)

I’d been playing all night.

Stardew Valley is one of my all time favorites, and god, imagine being in a world like that! Wake up, pet my cat, tend to my farm, and meet the people of the Valley, and soon even Ginger Island! Though, video games are video games, as Mom says, You can never make fantasy reality. And even when it’s reality, it can’t last all night.

“ALTHEA! IT’S A SCHOOL NIGHT, GET IN BED!” She shouted from the other room. I groaned, but even in Stardew, it was getting late and I was about to pass out. So (in the game and reality), I wrapped up, pet my cat, and went to bed.

I thought it was a dream—but.. it seemed real.

I woke up in bed, with my cat on top of me.. But that wasn’t Kenai. That was.. My cat from Stardew, my cat Luigi? I looked around, realizing I was also in a decent sized cabin, with a TV, a fireplace, and a table. “Wait—I’m in my Stardew house.. my cat from Stardew is here..” I hopped out of bed, running to a mirror. I was Swallow! “Woah! Does that mean I’m in a VIDEO GAME!?” I exclaimed. I rushed out the door to see it was where I left the game last night, Fall 14th, with my fields of pumpkins ready. I looked over to the west of the farm, to see my barns and coops with my cows, sheep, and chicken coming out. “I don’t have time for pumpkins, I need to find Elliot and actually talk to him! Wooo!”

I ran past the bus stop, and ran toward the beach to Willy’s cabin, knowing he would be there today since it was a Sunday. When I got there, I couched down, panting. I sat down on the edge of the dock, waiting as I watched the ocean waves. I saw from the corner of my eye—Elliot! I jumped up, and exclaimed, “Hi Elliot!” He looked oddly..confused. “Hey, you actually talked to me instead of just giving me duck feathers!” He laughed. Yeah uh— I just had uh.. A sore throat, and I didn’t talk much. ‘ I laughed “Ah, I see. I’m glad you’re better.” He sat down on the dock, and for once, I felt at peace. Like I could tell him anything, because he would understand. So I sat there for that moment, and let it last as we watched the ocean waves until dawn.