𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘿𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙇'𝙎 𝘼𝘿𝙑𝙊𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙀 • 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙫𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

NINETEEN*

                       
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CHAPTER NINETEEN

A Long Day
 

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"YOU LOOK RADIANT TODAY." 

I ignored Sev's compliment while drawing out the first draft for a new Stormtrooper mask. After making some inquiries and collating the answers, I found that many of the troopers had complaints about their visors which would usually be the first compromised area on missions. Without perfect vision, they were at a disadvantage, so I put myself at work to improve and add protection to their masks.

"Your design is looking to be very well done already," Sev commented from beside me, making me sigh before dropping the pencil.

"You have been showering me with praise all morning," I stated with a suspicious glare. "Why?"

He tilted his head. "That is what would have typically cheered your mother up."

I winced at her mention and looked back down at my desk. "What makes you think I need cheering up?" And how am I that bad at hiding it, that even my droid notices?

Sev whirred a little before answering me. "It would have been Rov-Nevi's birthday today," He began, making my eyes squeeze shut. "And thus, it is also Zaree's death anniversary."

"Happy birthday, Rovi!" I whispered, handing her the chocolate which I had stolen from the store in the market.

Her eyes widened with delight, but she quickly looked around our small bedroom in fear. "But Father-"

"Pay no mind to what he says," I told her. "It wasn't your fault, no matter what he makes you think. How could it have been?"

Rov-Nevi's face scrunched up as tears filled her eyes. "If I hadn't been born-"

"Then I'd be extremely lonely," I cut her off sternly. "Who else would I steal chocolate for? It's not like Sevvy can eat it."

She giggled, taking the sweet treat from my hand and having a bite. Looking up at me, she reached out the rest to me. "You have some too, Sinny."

"No; it's your birthday," I insisted, gently pushing her hand back.

"But on your birthday, you always make me eat a slice of your cake," She argued, making my chest ache.

It was no secret that our father favored me. Though at first I felt proud, I soon realized that it wasn't worth seeing my sister's heart break every single day. Because of the circumstances of her birth, our father blamed her for our mother's death. Rov-Nevi's birthday was never a day to celebrate; it was a day to mourn. That was why I stole away moments like this; sneaking her a measly piece of chocolate that I so wished, and she so deserved, would be a huge cake baked just for her.