Consequence of Oversight

Happy Life Day

The twin suns of Tatooine began to rise, casting long shadows over the quiet desert. The soft rustling of the wind stirred the sand, and in their small, humble home, Hazel awoke with a strange sense of anticipation. Today felt... different, though she couldn't say why. There was an unfamiliar lightness in her heart, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long while.

She stretched and slowly opened her eyes to find a small, carefully wrapped package resting on the table by her cot. The note attached was written in Obi-Wan's precise, familiar handwriting:

"Happy Life Day, Hazel. You deserve more than this galaxy can give, but I hope this is a start.         –Dad"

A smile tugged at Hazel's lips, and she gently unwrapped the package. Inside was a wooden pendant, intricately carved in the shape of a flower she vaguely remembered from her early days in the Jedi Temple. The Kyren Lily. A symbol of purity and new beginnings. She traced the petals with her fingers, her thoughts drifting back to the Temple and the memories that felt like a distant dream. Her caretaker had always spoken of the flower with such reverence.

She slipped the pendant on and let out a soft sigh. Despite everything—the long years of hiding, the weight of uncertainty—there was something about this simple gift that made her feel connected to something larger, something beyond the desolate landscape of Tatooine.

Hazel stepped outside, her bare feet brushing against the cool ground, and found Ben waiting with a steaming cup of tea in his hand. His tired eyes met hers as he gave a small smile, his features softening as he took in the sight of her wearing the pendant.

"Good morning, Hazel," the man said, his voice gentle, almost as if he feared disturbing the stillness of the moment. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did," Hazel replied, her voice light, despite the weight of the thoughts she carried. Her gaze lingered on the pendant. "Thank you for this. It's... beautiful."

Ben nodded. "I'm glad you like it. You deserve something good today."

Hazel smiled, her heart swelling with a warmth she hadn't felt in years. She didn't often let herself feel this way—grateful, safe—but today, she let it in. For a brief moment, the harsh realities of their lives on Tatooine, of hiding from the Empire, of the constant fear of discovery, seemed distant. They shared a moment of peace, a fleeting sense of normalcy in a world that had never allowed it.

"Come," her father waved her over, his tone shifting slightly, as if attempting to bring a sense of normality to their daily routine. "I thought we could have breakfast together. Your favorite."

Hazel's eyes widened as she saw the simple but welcoming spread on the table—fruit she hadn't tasted in what felt like ages, fresh bread, a small luxury on this planet of harsh survival. The gesture meant more to her than she could express.

"You didn't have to do all this," she said, her voice cracking slightly, overwhelmed by the kindness.

The Kenobi shook his head, a faint but warm smile on his lips. "It's your day. Of course, I did."

They sat together, the quiet clink of utensils and the occasional bite the only sounds between them. Ben, as always, avoided speaking of the past—the war, the betrayal, the horrors they both carried. Instead, he focused on the present, on the small but meaningful ways he could make this day feel special for Hazel.

"You've grown so much," he said softly, his voice quiet but filled with pride. "I see it in you, Hazel. You're becoming someone strong. Someone who can face the world with courage. And I'm proud to see it."

Hazel met his gaze, her ocean eyes filled with something unspoken. Her emotions were tangled. She was proud of what she was becoming, but there was still so much she didn't understand. Still so many things unsaid between them. Still the secrets she carried—the training she'd been doing in secret, her connection to the Force that Obi-Wan had severed for his own reasons.