“Each step was in agony; an anguish the toes conceded to the ankles, the ankles, in turn, tormented every muscle in the legs. – Finally, after generations of time, the knees buckling under loads of regret…”

“Are you okay, Grandfather?”

With distant, tearing eyes the old man smiles, his arm secures the child who snuggles his side. “…and the sky walker fell to the ground.”

“Are you The Skywalker?” a small voice asks, an evocative gaze meeting his own.

“No, my daughter. – Skywalkers lived long before you or I ever did. – The Skywalkers lived in a galaxy far, far away. – A long time ago.”

“What happened to them?”

Stroking his grizzled beard, he quickly swabs a tear and continues. “A dark force influenced some; with ambition and insatiable want they left the others to pursue lofty ideals. – Time then took its toll…” His voice trailing, “…I thought I could change things. I thought it would make it better somehow.” With an almost inaudible whisper he said, “I should have never let them go.”