Force connections

A good meal

My mouth fell open and I watched Rey's do the same. She was dressed in some new clothes now. Similar to what she had been wearing before and yet slightly more fitted. She looked beautiful. "Ben!" She cried rushing towards where I sat and kneeling down in front of me, tears pouring down her cheeks, I nodded but found that I was unable to speak, a lump already formed in my throat. We embraced then, her warmth flowing into my cold body and I buried my face in her hair as she did the same. "Ben, you're so cold" she whispered. I nodded again, my lip trembling, fighting my emotions, "How is it I'm able to reach you? Have you been moved out of the cell?" She asked, pulling away so that she could see my face and cupping it gently. I leaned my cheek against her hand, enjoying its warmth "I got away too" I said looking in her eyes. I saw them flash with excitement which quickly turned to worry, "Ben where are you? Are you ok?", I shifted on the cold floor and hesitated, enjoying the sensations as she combed her fingers through my knotted hair, "Crait" I replied flatly, for some reason feeling worried about her response. I saw her hesitate, her fingers pausing near my ear before she continued, "It's cold there" she said her voice full of concern. I nodded again and then watched her brow furrow, "You're so hungry and thirsty, Ben I feel it coming off you in waves. If you walk right to the back of the mine you will find a room filled with cupboards. We left supplies there, the resistance. You'll find food and water". I looked at her with surprise, " Go now before it's too dark for you to see".  I hesitated, I didn't want Rey to vanish.  She smiled, guessing my thoughts, "I'll come back, I promise".  I stood then, wincing at the leaden feeling in my limbs and looked down at Rey but she was already fading. 

I found the room Rey was talking about and began opening the cupboards, gathering crackers and veg-meat protein packs.  I picked up two bottles of water too and then slumped down in front of the cupboards, unscrewed the lids and glugged back a mouthful.  Closing my eyes at the sensation.  Then I began to eat.  I stuffed two crackers into my mouth and then, crumbs tumbling down onto my chest, I tore open a veg-meat protein pack and popped it into my mouth.  I hadn't eaten one of those for years and I swallowed hard, not enjoying the taste but loving the feeling of eating.  I swigged back at the water again and then stuffed two more crackers into my mouth.  I was so busy eating that I didn't hear the humming.  In fact I didn't know that she was there until I heard a giggle.  My eyes shot up, crumbs around my mouth and water dripping off my chin.  "Better?" Rey said, clearly amused by my behaviour.  Suddenly embarrassed and very aware of my dishevelled and unwashed appearance I straightened up, wiping my chin self consciously.  Rey came to sit cross legged opposite me, smiling broadly as she watched me eat.  I ate another protein pack and then glugged back the rest of the bottle of water, wiping my hand across my mouth. I raised my eyes to hers then and she shuffled in closer until she was between my legs, her head resting on my chest. I inhaled deeply, full and feeling much better. Rey's warmth adding to my lift in mood. "Ben I'm so sorry they hurt you, is your arm ok." I nodded, wrapping my arms around her, "It's nothing" I said. "What will you do now Ben?" Rey asked, pulling back slightly so that she could look into my tired eyes. I thought for a moment, unsure of what to say, "I don't know. Just keep hiding" I said, unable to hide the depression in my voice. Rey shuffled back then so that she could see me, her sweet face upturned, her eyes wide, "Ben you can't run and hide forever", I straightened, slightly irritated by this "Why not?" I bit, "you and your resistance friends do it all the time". As soon as the words had left my mouth I regretted it. Rey quickly stood up, her arms wrapping around her waist, her face stony, her eyes cold and in that moment I was transported back to all those months ago when Rey had looked at me with that very same look in this very same mine and then, just as on that day, she was gone.