𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚. 𝐬𝐤𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐫

20

The night was quiet aboard the cruiser, a stark contrast to the chaos of the ongoing war. But for Anakin, sleep was elusive. As he lay in his quarters, shadows danced on the walls, but it was the darkness within his mind that tormented him the most.

Images flashed before his eyes—visions of his past failures, of the Jedi falling, and the ones he loved being lost to him. The more he tried to push them away, the more vivid they became. He gasped as he found himself standing in a burning landscape, the cries of those he couldn't save echoing in his ears.

"No!" he shouted, thrashing in his sleep, sweat beading on his forehead. He could see her—Ahsoka—reaching out to him, but her figure was engulfed in flames, her face twisted in pain.

With a jolt, Anakin sat upright in bed, heart racing, his breath coming in short gasps. He rubbed his hands over his face, trying to ground himself in reality, but the remnants of the nightmare clung to him like a suffocating fog.

"I can't keep doing this," he murmured to himself, frustration and fear swirling within him. He knew he needed comfort, but the thought of burdening Aruna with his nightmares felt like a weight he couldn't bear. Yet, deep down, he craved her presence.

After a moment's hesitation, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. He couldn't stay here alone with his thoughts. Taking a deep breath, he made his way through the dimly lit corridors, each step echoing in the silence.

When he reached Aruna's door, his heart pounded in his chest. What if she's sleeping? What if I'm waking her for nothing? But he couldn't let doubt stop him; he needed her now more than ever.

Anakin knocked softly, and after a moment, the door slid open to reveal Aruna, her hair tousled and a sleepy look in her eyes. "Anakin?" she said, concern etched across her features. "What's wrong?"

"Can I come in?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Without a word, she stepped aside, allowing him to enter. The room was dim, the soft glow of the control panel casting gentle light across her face. He could see the concern in her eyes, and it made his chest tighten.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," she said, closing the door behind him.

Anakin turned to face her, his throat dry. "It's just—nightmares."

She nodded, her expression softening as she crossed the room to sit on the edge of her bed. "What kind?"

"The same ones," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "About losing everyone I care about. About failing." The vulnerability of his confession hung in the air, and he felt exposed.

Aruna patted the space beside her, and he moved to sit down, grateful for her warmth and understanding. "You don't have to face this alone, Anakin," she said gently. "You know that, right?"

"I know," he replied, but the weight of his fears felt insurmountable. "I just... I don't want to lose you too."

Her hand found his, fingers intertwining as she looked directly into his eyes. "You won't. I promise." Her voice was firm, and it calmed the storm within him, if only slightly.

"What if I can't protect you?" he asked, his voice cracking. "What if I'm not strong enough?"

Aruna scooted closer, her eyes locking onto his. "You are strong, Anakin. You've saved countless lives. But you don't have to carry this weight alone."

He wanted to believe her, but the fear still gnawed at him. "What if I become someone I don't want to be? What if I fall to the dark side?"

"We all have our darkness," she said softly, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. "But you have the light in you too. You have me."