I FEEL IT AGAIN.

            “   you can’t HIDE from me   ,   ”   he whispers   ,   voice as soft as the breeze   .   “   we are CONNECTED through the force   .   a DYAD   .   ”

            hello   !   i have been missing ben   ,   a lot   ,   lately   .   would anyone still be interested in interacting   ?

            HE     CANNOT     SHAKE     THE     IMAGE     OF     HIS     SABER     PIERCING     HIS     FATHER’S     HEART     .     it is what he sees when he closes his eyes     ,     desperate to find sleep     ;     it is what visits him in his dreams     ;     what startles him in the night     ,     waking in a cold sweat     .     but this TRAITOR doesn’t know him     ───     didn’t know him     ,     even when she worked beneath him     .     “     you know NOTHING     .     ”     all the resistance scum know is what the girl feeds them     ───     LIES as far as he’s concerned     .

            PERHAPS     SHE     IS     RIGHT     ;     perhaps he can’t do this on his own     .     after all     ,     where does he BEGIN     ?     ben rubs at the budding facial hair at his chin     ───     a sorry attempt at hiding     ,     possibly     ,     but a physical change that signifies his redemption     .     “     i have to     ,     rey     .     ”     brown eyes fall     ,     and the man stretches his newly healed leg     .     it’s been nice to have his feet on solid ground after spending so long on first order ships     ,     even if part of his time with the resistance had been spent inside a cell     .     “     i’m the only one who can atone for what i’ve done     .     don’t worry───     ”     the resistance finds her CRAZY for falling into the arms of a man who did so much wrong     ,     but     ,     even so     ,     ben wraps his hand around the back of the jedi’s neck and pulls her close     ,     pressing his lips to her forehead     .     “     ───i’ll be back for you     .     ”

            “     no     ,     ”     he lies     ,     though he is unsure of how to answer     .     to say he is on his ship would spark the idea that he is searching for her     ,     for the resistance     .     against his better judgement     ,     he wants only to speak with her for as long as their bond will allow     .     “     it’s bright     ,     but i’m tired     .     it makes it difficult to sleep     .     ”     another itch of the nose     ,     and ren gazes at the jedi through the force     .     “     what about you     ?     you look EXHAUSTED     .     perhaps you should get some rest     .     ”