It was unusual not to see the farmer at least once a day, much less not seeing them for an entire week.

They were usually making rounds around town, talking with other residents and visiting Pierre’s general store for seeds or whatnot. Not that Sebastian knew their schedule or anything, but their mutual friends — Sam and Abigail had talked with Sebastian about it, the farmer’s sudden disappearance.

No one had tried going over to their place yet. Mainly because no one wanted to seem pushy. What if they were sick? It was winter, after all. Cold and flu season and all. But even after the group asked Dr. Harvey if he’d seen the farmer, they’d had no luck.

Something was wrong.

Sebastian took it upon himself to trudge through the snow to check up on the farmer himself. They weren’t answering anyone’s texts and calls! A home visit was the only option. Just in case they were sick, he brought some homemade chicken soup his mother had made. When he knocked on their front door, there was silence for a moment before a soft shuffling was heard on the other side.

The door slowly creaked open, and he was greeted with the sight of the farmer. They…didn’t look great. But it was obvious they weren’t sick. Something had happened. They looked like they had been crying, their hair a mess and their eyes a little red. It was obvious they were trying to hide it.

“H-hey,” Sebastian stuttered, looking a little shocked and concerned. “N-no one’s heard from you for a few days. Thought you were…sick or something. You okay?” He held out the porcelain dish of soup. “I-I brought soup?” Yoba, he sucked at this.

What happened?