I Am No One - Rey's Story (Star Wars - Episode VII)

Chapter 8 - He's Still Here

I wake up before the sun arises and I find it interesting that my body isn't aching anymore. It's like all the pain from yesterday went away with only a good sleep. I rub my eyes and I turn around in my bed, wanting to go back to sleep. I suppose I have to get up if I want to stick to my plan. But this bed feels so damn good.

I grunt as I get up, my eyes still trying to get used to the light. I notice I slept covered only in my towel, so basically naked. I frown as I make my way to the wardrobe and I slip my body into my old dirty clothes, since I have no other outfit. I find it funny how the base now looks so peaceful, compared to what was yesterday out there. Now the peace and quiet almost seems... strange. I was getting used to the loud and the lot of people that passed my window and I heard them overnight. I go to the bathroom and splash my face with cold water, then I take my time to style my hair in my ordinary three buns. It's the only thing my parents left me with, as a memory of them. I feel close to them when I have my hair like that, so it gives me a sort of confidence and assurance that one day I will see them again. One day.

Now that I think of it, what happens if they do come back for me and I'm not there? What if right now, when I decided to leave the planet, they come for me? I'll break their hearts, they told me to stay on Jakku, that I'm safe there, but was I really? I had to deal with tugs every day, I had to salvage ships in order to get food, and most important I was a child, alone, left in a desert like I meant nothing. Sold to a guy that encouraged violence and punishing with death. To my surprising, even though I sometimes wanted to punch Unkar's face, I actually managed to keep all that rage inside me. Yes, I yelled when it was necessary, when the portions that I got were utterly unfair, but I only got punished with no water for a full scavenging day. It was horrible every time it happened, so when I came to the conclusion that it got me nowhere, I decided to refrain my thoughts and accept the food. Even though it sometimes wasn't enough.

Think of what Maz said. They are never coming back. Grow up. I frown in the mirror before I decide to actually leave the room. I open the door quietly and I look around. No one in sight. I decide to go the way Leia brought me here and maybe go check the Falcon for any damage at the hyperdrive.

I can finally see the sun rising in the distance, only a thin line of bright yellow in the pinkish sky. I watch in awe as I walk forward, not looking where I'm going. I used to watch the sunrise on Jakku and it would be the same, though, I don't know, this place seems to have a more beautiful one. I don't know if it's only my imagination or because of my feelings towards this place, but the sunrise is more beautiful here. It might me because the pinkish color is more intense here, or maybe because there are also some clouds that create the perfect background.

People have started to wake up and come out, fully dressed in their action clothes, like they're about to jump in their ships and start another war. Some pilots are chatting while passing me and I notice that I'm the only one they're not greeting in any way. I'm a stranger to them, they don't know me, but then why does my heart ache whenever I feel like I'm not part of their family? I can't blame them, but it still hurts.

I see the Falcon right ahead and my pace quickens, but I stop right in front of it, another thought occurring my mind. Finn. I don't know what happened to him, I don't even know if he's still alive, but now maybe I can go check, since everyone calmed down and the medbay should be emptier than it was yesterday. But I said I'll go to the General right when I woke up.

I frown, already knowing what my heart desires more. I'll go check on Finn, see if he's alright, then I'll report to the General and excuse myself that it took longer than expected to get ready. I nod for myself, then I turn on my heels and I run towards the place that seemed to look like a medical wing. That's where the injured people were taken, so I can only guess Finn is there, laying in a bed, awake or not, dead or not. I gulp and I shove away that thought. No, Finn is a survivor. He survived the cut, he can't die now. And I have to be there by his side.