Chapter XXVI

She's running out again

Kylo knows he won't find any physical trace connecting her to Rey, but maybe this unperturbable calm against life's blows is the legacy this old woman will leave the daughter that doesn't share her blood.

"Yes," he acquiesces and steps back. "In a few more minutes."

The woman grunts slightly in agreement (everything must hurt at this point) and gestures towards an armchair behind him.

"I guess you can sit for a few more minutes, then."

He does so.

"I never thought this would happen," she mutters with a thoughtful expression that soon wrinkles. "Is this something all of us about to part face?"

Kylo shakes his head.

"Normally there's no warning." He suddenly realizes he has just informed a person she's about to die. "I'm sorry. I don't want you to be afraid."

The old woman shrugs.

"At my age, that's no surprise… I had been wondering when would you come… I didn't know you actually had a specific shape, though. I thought you were more like a concept."

"Most think that," he agrees. "And they are not mistaken. I'm more of a messenger. Not the final destination."

"But, then… why are you here?"

Kylo presses his lips into a thin line. It's now or never. Just a few minutes left, fewer than before.

"Your daughter… Was she happy?"

The woman frowns.

"That sounds like you intend to take her away."

Kylo is shaking his head even before she finishes her sentence.

"No, no. I should have, before. But…"

The woman is smart, and has years' worth of experience about human emotions Kylo may possess, but doesn't recall.

"You should have, but you didn't."

Kylo keeps to himself. Even now, to admit his crime out loud is hard.

"You broke the rules. For her." Her voice doesn't accuse, but points to him.

Kylo wishes it didn't.

"To your knowledge, is she happy?" he tries again, picking better words, his eyes hopeful, his fingers fidgeting against each other.

The woman's eyes are kind, and Kylo thinks he doesn't deserve this gaze any more than he deserves Rey's.

However, mother and daughter gift him this without hesitation.

"She's happy. Immensely so. The happiest person of all. She loves her husband, her work, and they surely will have lots of children that she will also love, and deeply, at that."

Kylo nods, and although his smile betrays his pain, he can't deny he still feels somewhat happy about it.

I did something right, no matter how many rules I've broken.

"I don't know which rules did you break," says Rey's mother, and Kylo wonders if she can read minds. "But, from the bottom of my heart: thank you for giving her more time."

Kylo stands up.

"Time is up. Will you please come with me?"

The woman opens her mouth to answer, but doesn't make it.

Her soul escapes from between her lips.

All the same, Kylo is able to hear the last thing she intended to say.

"Thank you for loving her so much."