𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐕𝐄 | 𝟏𝟖+

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ❹

After summoning Anakin, and receiving the funds of his sold pod, we head back to the slave quarters, where Ani agrees to train under my Father to become a Jedi. Even with the small cloud of sadness looming over the boy's head, he excitedly rushes to his room and packs the bare necessities to travel across the galaxy. In awe, at the chance of a lifetime that her boy was receiving, Shmi didn't dare mask her worries.

"I'll watch out for him. You have my word." My Father exclaims in a hushed tone, placing a comforting hand on the grieving mother's shoulder, and goes on to ask, "Will you be alright?" Shmi watches her son from the doorway of the dining area and sighs, letting a saddened grin decorate her face, "Yeah."

Still standing near the front door, I look beyond the kind women and wonder aloud, "Where's my Mother?" Shmi glances down at me, with that same saddened smile, and replies, "She went to Watto's to pick up her speeder. She'll be back."

I nod once, suddenly feeling off as this apprehension in the pit of my stomach grows with every passing moment. Dad senses my discomfort, and gently caresses the back of my head just for the familiar sound of our speeder engine to cut off from outside. I find myself peering out of the front door, my Mother walking towards the house with a somber expression. It almost looks as if she's trying to fight off her inner demons, sending chills down my spine as I softly call out to her. "Momma?" Numbingly, I take a few steps just past the doorway, leaving my Father, and Shmi, to watch the inevitable scene play out.

Mom looks up with round, glossy eyes and frowns deeply. "My love..." She slowly reaches forward, grasping my arms and lowering herself to her knees before me. Sensing her heartache, I furrow my brows as I look from her knelt position and to the speeder just beyond her.

I didn't dare think of the endless possibilities of her onset emotion, but putting two and two together, I nervously shake my head and search her eyes for a better clue. "Mommy, what's wrong?" My creator blinks out a set of tears, those of which glide down her rosy cheeks as she lets out a shaky sigh, "I love you, so much. You know that?"

Fear pangs me entirely as she avoids the one question I asked. My heart begins to hammer in my chest as I turn my head towards my Father, who wore a blanket of total confusion. Yet, for the first time—his eyes avoid mine, as he gazes at his love, silently pleading with such melancholy.

In an instant, flashes of another vision flood my mind, making me completely aware of what she was about to tell me. "No...no! It's not supposed to happen like this! We were supposed to be at home when you say these words!" My voice trembles and cracks as tears of my own start to rise. Unable to keep strong, my Mother let's a single sob escape her lips before sucking in a breath as she tries to recompose herself. "I want you to have everything life has to offer, and you can't achieve that in Tatooine..."

I shake my head urgently, not understanding how such a great day can be dimmed by the smallest cluster of rain clouds. "Mommy, you have to come with us, please!" Her bottom lip quivers, her eyes traveling the short distance between my Father and I, and new tears rise before biting her lip to somewhat keep her composure.

My breathing becomes choppy as I silently await her answer. "I want to, baby. Believe me, I would not give it a second thought to be with you...But if they find me..." I shake my head with urgency, gripping tightly onto her forearms, "Who will find you?! Momma, the Jedi can keep you safe—they can keep us safe—Please!" I look between each of her eyes, tears now roaming freely, decorating the sand below. I just couldn't differentiate if they belonged to her or I... most likely both.

Tilting her head in defeat, my Mother quickly reaches up and brushes the wetness from my eyes with her thumbs. "I've already agreed to stay with Shmi...so that you and Anakin do not have to worry about either of us being alone." I sob at my Mother's cruel words, looking back into the house at the kind woman, who in fact hung her head with guilt. "And we'll have 3PO—and if it makes you feel even the slightest bit better, I'll keep CG-8 with me."