A LETTER FOR LEIA

(From THE FORCE AWAKENS)

Twilight was falling on the now quiet Takodana battlefield. Scattered rubble smoldered

on the ground and the acrid smell of spent weaponry still fogged the air.

Leia Organa-Solo sat motionless on a large boulder, staring into the distance; she'd experienced both loss and victory today. Wrapped up in her thoughts, she didn't hear the crunch of approaching footsteps and jumped slightly when the soldier spoke quietly. "General Organa-Solo."

Leia turned slowly. "Yes?"

The young Rebel held out a creased envelope to her. She gave a tired, wry smile and reached for it. "New directives already?"

"No, ma'am." He answered.

Giving the soldier a quizzical look, her mouth dropped when he said…"It's from your husband.

He asked me to give it to you if anything happened to him."

She didn't realize she'd been holding her breath until she tried to speak. "Th….thank you."

The Rebel gave a quick salute and his retreating steps echoed as Leia stared down at the envelope in her hand.

Slitting it open with a fingernail and unfolding the paper, emotion clutched her heart and tears welled in her eyes when she saw Han's familiar handwriting on the page.

'Leia, you may have already sensed I'm no longer alive

before you get this. You know I won't be coming back.

I came back to you time and time again - even after all

our years together I was always anxious to get back to

you. Not for just our intimate times, but I loved the

banter between us. Why do you think I enjoyed getting

you so riled? I liked to see that fire in you come to life.

That fire and determination will sustain you now. Keep

going, fighting for what you believe in - your efforts will

bring freedom and a better life for many. I wish you a better

life than I gave you. Your love was the best thing that

ever happened to me. The second best was when you

presented me with our son. You'll be the one to reach

him now, Leia. The Ben we knew, the Ben we raised is

not the same Ben, but he is still a part of both of us.

I love you Leia - remember me when you see the

stars in the sky. Han

She took a deep, cleansing breath; and in the darkness surrounding her, tightly

clasped the letter lovingly to her heart. Raising her head to the night sky, blinking away

the moisture that filled her eyes, she gazed at the star filled canopy of space.

They did seem to shine brighter than they had before.