Saving For a Rainy Day
–
We'd be so less fragile if we're made from metal
And our hearts from iron and our minds from steel
If we built an armor for our tender bodies
Could we love each other? Would we strive to feel?
And you want three wishes
One to fly the heavens; one to swim like fishes
And then one you're saving for a rainy day
If your lover ever takes her love away
–
Luke raced through the house, now standing before his mother and sister, who were resting their legs up comfortably on the couch.
Padme and Leia were both taken aback by his out-of-breath manner.
"Is it true?" He demanded, not blinking.
"What? What's wrong?" Padme sat forward, observing him vigilantly.
Luke's unsteady and rapid inhalations made him enunciate his words. "Is Vader our real father?"
"No!" Leia burst out laughing. "That's impossible. He's messing with you! Mum, tell him." Her hand flailed about to dismiss the news. But she grew quiet, noticing her mother's glaring silence. "Mum?"
Padme's pale face was all they were met with. Her body paralyzed – unable to fight off a rising panic.
"Tell him!" Leia urged, nervously, as her fear spiked.
"He told you..." Breathy whispers was all a contemplative Padme could muster – pretty much talking to herself.
"So it's true." Luke's jaw tightened as he pursed his lips.
"What? No." Leia gasped, sitting upright – her eyes anxiously going back and forth from her brother to her mother. "No!" She persisted, trembling inside.
Padme's heart leaped into her throat. Her glistening eyes on the verge of tears as she watched their hearts break.
"I didn't want you to find out like this." She lowered her head. She didn't know what to say, she was still in shock.
Luke shook his his head and stormed off.
"Luke!" Padme pleaded. And Leia got up to join him, pushing past her.
"Leia!" She urged, now getting up to follow them.
Leia turbulently turned back around upon hearing her mother's footsteps. "No!" Leia yelled out an indignant cry, causing Padme's movements to come to a halt. "Vader? Really? Vader is our father?!"
Before Padme could gather a clear explanation, Leia headed into the bedroom she shared with her brother, closing the door behind her with a hysterical strike.
Padme stood there, trying to give them some space to process it – trying to give herself a moment to figure out what she was going to tell them.
–
The kids had remained in their bedroom for at least a couple of hours when Padme knocked on the door.
"Dinner's ready." She called but no one answered.
Feeling exasperated, she knocked again. This time more assertively. "Please come out so we can talk."
"I have nothing to say to you!" Luke shouted from behind the door. Padme rubbed her brow as if to ward off a headache before her hand rested over her mouth. She began to walk back to the kitchen table. There was nothing more she could do right now.
