TM Prompt #237: Birthdays
TM Prompt #237: It's your birthday! If anything were possible, what would be your perfect way to celebrate?
Goodness. I suppose I would want - well, no, it's hard to think about what I would want, even if anything were possible. These days I am so conditioned to think not in terms of my own desires, but in terms of the desperate needs of my people and of the galaxy as a whole. There is seldom a day where I don't accomplish something related to my Senatorial duties, even if it's a day I'm supposed to take off. There simply isn't time for me to worry about myself, much less some birthday plans that may or may not be possible under current circumstances.
But if I were to think in those terms, if I were to consider myself ... well, I feel guilty even contemplating it. However, I know that all I would want - and I am being absolutely truthful on this point - all I would want is to spend my birthday with my family, back home on Naboo. And that family includes Anakin. On this mythical day, our marriage would no longer be a secret, and I could walk through the door of my parents' home with my husband on my arm. What's more, I could call him my husband, without fear of consequences or recriminations.
There would be no war. No galactic citizens suffering and dying as their planets burned to ashes. No Jedi Code prohibiting my marriage from becoming public, and no media itching to feast on whatever scandal they could. I could bring Anakin home and I could tell my parents and my sister that I married him, and we could renew our vows in sight of my family.
Then I suppose they would want to have a party for me. I used to enjoy birthday parties when I was a little girl, even though I never had many friends with which to celebrate. (When you're working your way towards the top politically, it's difficult to find time for friends.) There would be decorations, and cake, and real ice cream. None of these reconstituted rations that we seem to be stuck with due to the war. Mom would bring out the cake and light candles just as we used to, and they would sing to me.
I don't want presents. Oh, I'm sure one or two trinkets would be nice, but what would really count would be having my family - all of them - around me. Not to mention finally having peace, and being able to love my husband openly.
Of course, none of this will happen. It's silly of me to even have partaken in this kind of dream. Maybe sometime in the future, when the war is over and I'm retired from the Senate and we no longer have any concerns.
Or maybe not.
Padmé Amidala
Star Wars
465 words
Goodness. I suppose I would want - well, no, it's hard to think about what I would want, even if anything were possible. These days I am so conditioned to think not in terms of my own desires, but in terms of the desperate needs of my people and of the galaxy as a whole. There is seldom a day where I don't accomplish something related to my Senatorial duties, even if it's a day I'm supposed to take off. There simply isn't time for me to worry about myself, much less some birthday plans that may or may not be possible under current circumstances.
But if I were to think in those terms, if I were to consider myself ... well, I feel guilty even contemplating it. However, I know that all I would want - and I am being absolutely truthful on this point - all I would want is to spend my birthday with my family, back home on Naboo. And that family includes Anakin. On this mythical day, our marriage would no longer be a secret, and I could walk through the door of my parents' home with my husband on my arm. What's more, I could call him my husband, without fear of consequences or recriminations.
There would be no war. No galactic citizens suffering and dying as their planets burned to ashes. No Jedi Code prohibiting my marriage from becoming public, and no media itching to feast on whatever scandal they could. I could bring Anakin home and I could tell my parents and my sister that I married him, and we could renew our vows in sight of my family.
Then I suppose they would want to have a party for me. I used to enjoy birthday parties when I was a little girl, even though I never had many friends with which to celebrate. (When you're working your way towards the top politically, it's difficult to find time for friends.) There would be decorations, and cake, and real ice cream. None of these reconstituted rations that we seem to be stuck with due to the war. Mom would bring out the cake and light candles just as we used to, and they would sing to me.
I don't want presents. Oh, I'm sure one or two trinkets would be nice, but what would really count would be having my family - all of them - around me. Not to mention finally having peace, and being able to love my husband openly.
Of course, none of this will happen. It's silly of me to even have partaken in this kind of dream. Maybe sometime in the future, when the war is over and I'm retired from the Senate and we no longer have any concerns.
Or maybe not.
Padmé Amidala
Star Wars
465 words