Author's Note: This was written while I was listening to 'The Immolation Scene'. So angsty. I'll probably be doing a companion to this; the same scene from Anakin/Vader's POV. This is just to keep you mildly entertained, I still don't have enough time to actually work on what I want to eventually finish. This may become a sort of redemtpion story after I write the companion. I don't know. Don't get your hopes up about anything.

Don't Look Back to Yesterday

By Firnuial

"Trying to figure out where things went wrong,
Searching through all the lies he told.
Somehow he missed out on all the things that he needed most .
Days spent wondering why this
Life is so cruel and nothing ever changes.

Screaming for attention,
Watch the sun steal yesterday.
Hiding all emotion far away.

Reminded that yesterday is so far gone."

—12 Stones, "Waiting for Yesterday", Potter's Field

"I hate you!"

How could you, Anakin? How could I?

How could you become this monster?

What have I done to give you such a cruel fate?

What have we all done to you, my Padawan?

How have you been so utterly manipulated so that you forget your very soul?

So that you forget who you are. . . who Anakin Skywalker is? Was.

Now there is only Vader.

("But you cannot stop the change. . . no more than you can stop the suns from setting.")

Tears stream down my face as I look at what you've become. What I've made you become.

The Force knows I didn't mean it, Anakin.

I never meant it.

Especially not. . . not this. This. . . cruelty.

You lie in pieces at my feet. In more ways than one.

"You were my brother, Anakin. . . I loved you."

You must understand, my brother. I only wanted to help you.

I tried.

But the shadows overtook us all before I could reach you.

And by then it was too late.

You were gone.

You were already so far gone.

Your hand claws desperately at the black sand. I turn away, no longer able to look at the monster that used to be you. My son.

My brother.

I would give my life for you to not have to suffer as you do now. I would willingly take your place.

But it can never be so, Anakin. The Force has dealt us our fates.

It cannot be changed.

There's no going back now.

Maybe I still can go back, maybe I could still save you.

Maybe – I stop for a moment.

I begin to turn around. Back toward my last hope of peace.

I pause for a moment, half of my face turned toward hell itself. I can feel my right cheek burn with the heat.

I can't.

It is too late for you. . . to late for me.

("Don't look back. . . don't look back.")

Don't look back. Never look back.

If I do, I'll never be able to look away.

-fin-