My Hope

You loved to fix things.

I remember standing in the doorway of your room, watching you. You brought broken bits and pieces back from the shop when your master wasn't looking, confined yourself to your room, worked on them for hours.

Fixed them.

I was so proud of you. I knew you were special.

"I can fix that, mom." You would run off with a broken piece of equipment and return in moments, eyes shining.

I knew that life waiting for you would be hard—that much was evident in the Jedi's eyes. He had been through much, and he knew that you would travel a similar path. But he also knew that, for you, things would be harder.

You were special.

I was so afraid for you. But I knew that you would succeed, Anakin.

And that was why I let you go.

It was almost ten years before I saw you again, but I knew you immediately. It was your eyes, Annie. Bright, compassionate eyes. You were so handsome and brave. I touched you, and I was amazed that, this time, it was not a dream.

"Hold on, mom." You were stroking my hair. "It's going to be alright." I'll fix it.

But you cannot fix everything, Annie. Some things are not meant to be fixed. You cannot stop the change, no more than you can stop the suns from setting. Everything dies, Anakin. Even the stars burn out.

I saw you fading and my vision failed me, but your grip on my shoulders was firm. The sense of you there, holding me tightly to the world we both came from, allowed me to let go of the life I'd been clinging to. Knowing you would continue. You would remain, like one of the unchanging stars I sometimes gazed at on cold Tattooine nights. You'd stay, burning brightly until the very end.

I love you, Anakin.

My hope.

My only hope.

I watched as my death ripped at you. You had such power, a sadness and anger that brought about the deaths of many more. You could have forgiven, accepted the change, the natural movements of time and stars and life.

You cannot fix everything.

You broke me, Anakin.

My son, I watched you grow. I watched you love and learn. I saw a part of you heal, and I was so glad for you. But things had been set into motion, Anakin…things that could not be undone. I watched the galaxy torn to pieces. And I saw my beloved son being divided…

lost

…and I saw you take the wrong path.

You were my hopes and dreams. You were the future I held in my arms. The one thing I could give to the galaxy.

My hope. My only hope.

I saw an Empire rise, crush what remained of the right. I saw good men and women killed, slaughtered. By you.

Love has become only a small twinkling in your fierce eyes, so deep that only I can see, crowded by the Darkness you have joined. Become.

My Anakin.

My hope was shattered, and I had nothing more to hold. Nothing to believe.

And they came.

They are my light, Anakin. Unexpected they were, but in them I have found your fire and your spirit. I see it and feel it with every breath they take.

My new hope.

My grandchildren.

They are the Light in the Darkness. A new hope has been born and is even now growing. Someday, they will right the wrong, finish what has been started.

They will bring life to where all has been lost.

Anakin, my son…

…they are your only hope.