Teetering

Standing on the railing of the skybridge, teetering on the edge of oblivion, she remembered it all; the event, the consequences, and, most of all, the disappointment.

Tahiri Veila had thought that it would be all right; that after his death she would be able to live again. That she would be able to love again.

Yet, after so many years of pain, after missing him for half of her life, waiting for him to walk through the door one more time, she had given up. She had decided that it was enough.

Enough of being a Jedi.

Enough of being used by the Jedi.

Enough of being a Sith.

Enough of being used by the Sith.

Enough of being used by the Solo's.

Just enough.

None of them had anything to offer her anymore.

There was nothing left.

She was empty. Bereft.

Fate. Destiny. The Force. Whatever one wanted to call it, her entire existence so far had been meaningless. Everything and everyone that she had ever loved had ultimately been ripped from her.

So, that was why she was here, standing out over the edge of the abyss in the middle of the night. No pedestrians, no passing motorists. Just her, the bridge and the wide open chasm beneath her toes.

She edged closer to the abyss, and leaned forward slightly, watching the clouds as they passed through the emptiness beneath her.

The pit called to her. It beckoned, promising release.

Release from the pain. The suffering.

She wanted nothing more to throw herself forward, and accept the pit's offering.

Gathering the Force to her, she prepared to leap.

And that's when it happened. That's when the world shifted again.

It was soft, gentle, an almost whisper on the breeze. Yet she heard it clearly.

"Tahiri..."

Her name.

His voice.

She swallowed and lifted her head towards the sky. Looking upwards even though no stars were visible. Her eyes drifted close as a lone tear traced its way down her cheek. "You had better not be some trick or joke or something. You had better be Anakin."

She heard him coming closer; heavy boots shifting the occasional bits of gravel which accumulated on the skybridges.

"It's not a joke, 'Ri. I'm here."

She knelt onto the railing as another tear raced down her face. "You were supposed to come back. You promised me you would."

"I know. I'm here now."

"Why did you take so long."

He chuckled. It sounded like he was right behind her.

Warm moist arm floated across her arm. With a start she realized that it was his breath.

"I missed you, and I'm here, isn't that enough?"

Tahiri clenched her teeth and lowered her head; pressing her chin tight against her chest. She didn't want to break down and cry. Not here. Not now. Not in front of him.

"If I turn around will you still be there?"

He chuckled again, and grabbed her arm, pulling her down. She let out a short yelp in surprise and then safety and warmth flooded back into her existence.

For the first time in years, she felt whole and alive.

He held her in his arms, not letting her feet touch the ground, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in the between her arm and his cheek.

She allowed herself to be held and comforted as he whispered something into her hair. She didn't care what he was saying, just the fact that he was there to say it at all was enough.