Title: "Anakin's Tale"
Rated: G
Author's Note: Written for imadra-blue on Live Journal. Not sure this is what you had in mind by being "cheered up," but this is what my mind came up with.
I am Anakin Vader. I mean, Darth Skywalker. I think. Sometimes I'm not sure who I am, or was. Never have I been just me.
Memory is the cruelest master I have ever known. It never forgives. It never relents. It never quits. Except when it punishes by taking what I value most.
Anticipating my first taste of true freedom after a lifetime of slavery is a happy memory. It is still a dream to be realized.
Dreams, once so vivid, fade more each day as Memory takes from me your face, your voice, your touch. Please, Master, don't take any more of Obi-Wan from me.
Reality pressed upon me, testing my resolve to stay the course as the Chosen One, before I even understood what that truly meant.
Ancient prophesy still haunts my every breath, darkens my soul, and demands my submission to its will.
Balancing fading dreams with painful reality tore holes in my heart.
Love is the strongest Force of all; I knew this, I know this. What I forgot then, but will not forget again, was that any Force is never all good, and never all bad.
Under this grim visage lies the heart of who I was, and who I once longed to be. Padawan. Friend. Brother. Partner. Lover. They were all me just as I was once them. And will be again.
Escape comes painfully in crackling lightening flames surpassed only by the light in my son's blue eyes.
Justice demands a high price, paid with humility and, finally, enlightenment. I surrender to ancient prophesy made whole by that very act.
"Anakin," your voice calls me to consciousness. Then there you are walking towards me and I see only you, hear only you. Need only you. I open my mouth to beg your forgiveness, but you lay a gentle finger across my lips, "I forgave you a long time ago; you needed to forgive yourself."
eXcitement pulses through me. Eternity stretches before me and for the first time I do not fear it, for you are at my side.