Learning

~The Finalised Divorce~

You know, if I am being perfectly honest, this is kind of like a mini ending. The last of the flashback chapters. I hope you have all enjoyed these little insights into the past, leading up to the event that is ultimately the catalyst for this story. I have never used them before so I hope I did a reasonably good job. As this is the last flashback it probably means that there will not be many more chapters to go before the end. That seems to have come around very quickly. But for now though, on with the story!

Ahsoka may have been only seven but she knew the difference between the spectrum of very good, good, bad, very bad. Right now, her parent's marriage would be beyond the very bad factor. The trial separation had lasted longer than anyone actually ever considered. Ahsoka was reassured constantly that both of her parents still loved her a great deal but that seemed to be the only thing that she truly believed.

Ashla wasn't the same woman or mother she had been before this, Ahsoka wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. On the plus side, she'd started to take a greater interest in the community and help out at the local shelters for both animals and humans. She'd taken up a bunch more hobbies and become more invested in her work. It was these things Ashla did in public that made it difficult for Ahsoka to believe she was the same woman at home. The negatives were that she had started to drink a lot more than Ahsoka has ever seen her. Ashla had also spent more time with her friends which was fine but it meant that she left her alone for long periods of time and when she returned, be too wasted to probably look after Ahsoka.

The little girl knew how to look after herself though and knew the dangers of Ashla's behaviour. Ahsoka was grateful that she never became violent towards her when she was drunk but that didn't stop her being destructive to the house in general. Ashla did still manage clean up after herself though, regardless of how hungover she was. Ahsoka knew however that things couldn't continue in this way but she couldn't shake the feeling that this was still the calm before the storm.

The postman arrived on Saturday morning with a letter for a Mrs Ashla Tano. She recognised it immediately as Hosin's handwriting and went upstairs to read the letter, shutting the bedroom door behind her. Ahsoka wasn't sure if the contents of that letter would be good or bad but it had been a few days since Hosin last called to talk to her. She realised that the postman had also left a letter for her so Ahsoka picked it up and tore it open. She read it quickly for she needed to know what was coming. Ahsoka's breath quickened and her heartbeat seemed to vibrate around her body. This had to be a mistake, Hosin loved them and would come back. His letter however read otherwise.

"Ahsoka, mi Hija, you know how much I love you. I love you more than the world itself. However things between your Mother and I have been strained. That much has been clear for a while and this separation has only further proved that. These next few weeks and months will be difficult for all of us but I have no doubt in my mind that you will be able to handle it. I've met another woman who is kind, loving, funny and makes me feel like I'm invincible. Ashla... I do love her but in a different way than I did years ago. I love her in the sense that there are many good times and memories shared between us and a lot of good came out of our relationship, you being number one. However she doesn't make me feel these emotions anymore. Yaz is someone who I hope you can also come to like however I know it will be particularly hard for you. I want to make it clear that she did not break up our marriage and I never cheated on your Mother, regardless of the angry accusations Ashla may make of me. I am filing for a divorce from her, so we can both start anew. We both love you tremendously though, nothing about our feelings for you have changed. I hope Ashla will handle this maturely and not corrupt you, I am not a bad man Ahsoka. But keep in mind that love starts out as a feeling and soon becomes a choice. You can help one but not the other. I can't keep pretending to love Ashla anymore and the feelings I have for Yaz are too great to ignore. I know how young you are and how heartbreaking this news will be for you but it is not your fault. When you're older and you've lived and loved, you'll understand what I mean. Te amo, mi Hija."

Ahsoka could take a guess from the anguished howl from Ashla's bedroom that she too had learnt of the news. She knew her mum needed her now to look after her so Ahsoka went upstairs and knocked on the bedroom door. "¿Mamá? ¿Estás bien?" Ahsoka walked in to see Ashla thrown across her bed, sobbing loudly.

She looked up at the sound of her daughter and broke into a fresh round of tears. "Oh Ahsoka! How could he do this to us? To me? I gave that man everything I had and fifteen years later he throws it right back in my face!" Ashla's wails were reaching ultrasound pitch now and Ahsoka was fighting the urge to cover her ears. "And a divorce?! I'll be the disgrace of the town! People will look at me and start whispering, they'll say things like how I'm a terrible wife and mother." She knew her mum was just emotional for Ahsoka doubted that the entire town would be talking about their affairs. People got divorced everyday, there wasn't a section on the news specifically to list those marriages that had fallen apart.

Ahsoka crawled next to her mum and cuddled her. "Don't worry Mum, we'll be okay. You and me. We don't need him." The words lodged in the back of her throat and Ahsoka wondered if they were strictly true but she knew that they would make Ashla feel better. Regardless now, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, Ahsoka Tano's parents were divorced, never to reunite again...

When Ahsoka looked back on what a disaster their relationship had been, she did often think of what Hosin had wrote. Now she was older and was in a relationship, having rescued her mum from the brink too many times only to loss her at the final hurdle. However she did understand the feeling and the choice he made when considering Ashla and Yaz. But just because Ahsoka could start to understand him didn't mean that Hosin was right in saying she and Yaz would ever get on. It was also hard to remember that he loved her when she was replaced by twins. Ahsoka would never forgive Hosin for being a coward and telling them in a letter, yet she understood. That didn't stop her feeling guilt whenever she thought of the shouting over the phone as to who she should live with. Ahsoka may have also not actually cheating but looking back, the signs were clearly there. She often wondered whether or not she should've said something more to Ashla and whether or not that would have made a difference. Ahsoka doubted it though, some things you just can't change. Even if you wished to.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, back on the daily updating schedule. I feel better now so the chapters should be up to their regular quality now. I'll update again tomorrow so bye, bye.