Bittersweet Devotion [Star Wars x Anakin Skywalker]

18.

"Only a Sith deals in absolutes." - Obi-Wan Kenobi

Rain's world had shattered into a thousand tiny pieces, the weight of it almost too much to bear. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, each one a sharp reminder of the devastation that had engulfed her. The last words she had heard echoed in her mind, haunting her every thought:

"Rise now... Darth Vader."

The words reverberated in the darkness, a relentless reminder of the unthinkable reality that had unfolded before her eyes. The man she loved, the one she had shared her life and her heart with, had knelt before the embodiment of evil. He had pledged himself to the dark side.

Rain woke with a start, the familiar surroundings of her apartment slowly coming into focus. Her body ached, not just from the physical impact of being knocked out, but from the emotional turmoil that ravaged her mind. The cold, empty space beside her only intensified her sense of loss.

She sat up slowly, clutching the sheets around her as she tried to piece together what had happened. Anakin had been there—she remembered his face, the conflict in his eyes as he made his terrible choice. And then... darkness. He must have knocked her out and brought her back here, to the place they had once shared so many tender moments.

But now, that place felt like a prison. Anakin was gone, and the fear that he might never return gnawed at her insides like a relentless beast. The realization hit her with the force of a lightsaber strike—Anakin had chosen the dark side over her, over everything they had fought for. The thought made her heart ache with an intensity she had never known before.

Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision as she curled into herself, the sobs wracking her body. Each cry was a manifestation of the profound heartache that enveloped her. Why had he done this? Why had he chosen the dark side? The questions swirled in her mind, a storm of confusion and despair.

She couldn't bear the thought of losing him, of being alone in this vast, unforgiving galaxy. But the reality was staring her in the face—Anakin was no longer the man she had loved. He had become something else, something dark and terrifying.

Her thoughts were a tangled mess, her mind struggling to process the enormity of what had happened. The words of the Sith Lord echoed in her mind, taunting her with the promise of salvation—salvation for her, but at what cost? She could barely comprehend it, lost in her turmoil, until a voice broke through the haze.

"Rain!"

It was Miri. Rain turned, her eyes red and swollen from crying, as her friend burst into the room. Miri's face was a mask of concern, her eyes wide with worry as she rushed to Rain's side.

"Rain!" Miri called again, her voice sharp and urgent as she waved a hand in front of Rain's face, trying to snap her out of her daze.

"What?" Rain asked, her voice distant and disoriented, as if she were speaking from far away.

"Where have you been? I was so worried. Have you seen Anakin? No one has seen him for hours," Miri asked, her concern palpable.

The mention of Anakin's name was like a knife to Rain's heart. The tears she had tried to hold back spilled over, and she felt herself crumbling under the weight of it all. Miri's eyes widened as she noticed the tears streaming down Rain's face.

"Rain, what's wrong? Where is Anakin?" Miri pressed, her voice trembling with worry as she reached out to touch Rain's arm.

"He's not coming back," Rain choked out between sobs, her voice barely audible. Miri immediately sat beside her on the bed, wrapping her in a comforting embrace. Her gentle strokes on Rain's back were soothing, helping to steady her breathing as she tried to calm down.