I cried when I got to the end. And I'm not even sure why. It was just so touching. And I think you captured the characters beautifully. Schmi's diary was an excellent idea.

Wonderful and very moving story. I loved how you interspersed the diary entries throughout the story. You've described Shmi's life as a slave very well. The only thing I wished you would have added is Luke's reaction.

A great story. Very good.

:O Very haunting.

This is just lovely. So so well done.

Very moving and bittersweet, thank you.

aw, very moving. Sad yet hopeful. It made me think of my great-grandmother's diary, and the diary of a grandfather I've never met. We have them in doc format as it's very hard to read the handwriting from back then. Very fitting that it ended up in Luke's hands in the end. Curious about what the other 'items' that Vader mentioned were ... maybe the trillion credit fortune? His pad on Coruscant? heh.

That was a beautifull ending. Very emotional as well, if it is like I think it is, and Vader feels the same for Luke as Schmi did for Anakin. I'm glad Beru kept it for Luke to read, and even more glad that Vader was already 'good' again before he left for the Death Star.
This was a great story. I hope you'll write more!

That was just beautiful. The ending was heartbreaking. Vader's heart echoed his own mother's words as she let her son go. Masterful. Thank you for another wonderful story.

Oh, this is brilliant on so many levels that I don't know how to describe it! I pride myself on eloquence, but you appear to have stolen my words ... CURSE YOU.

I LOVED your characterisation of Shmi and her backstory, as well as Owen and Beru - you so rarely see fics about these characters, which pains me because they have the potential to be so brilliant, as yours are.

Shmi's diary was excellent, and I loved the way you detailed how it was passed on through generations ... I also really loved the touch of her dead lover, because in TPM, she was portrayed as the Virgin Mary or whatever, and it's like, um, she's a slave, she's not exactly going to be lilywhite, is she?

And I loved the way that you wrote Vader as well. "Padme and Anakin's possessions were not his own." >> That sense of denial of his is awesome ... very IC!

"After all, I have been a slave for so long, it scares me to think of what I would do if I was freed." >> That line is terrifying, because it is such a TRUE way that Shmi might feel about such things ... actually, I haven't seen any fics reflecting on Anakin's experience of slavery, which would have been interesting, but was mostly ignored due to the large gap between TPM and AOTC ...

Faves :D

Beautiful. Just...beautiful. And the double meaning hidden in the last entry was so well done...

I really haven't any words. I just don't.

Phantom Jedi

That was magnificently poetic. I'm kind of sad, though, I really wanted to see Luke's reaction to the note. :( But I've always loved stories that draw that connection between Beru and Shmi, and I think this is the best of them all. Beautiful oneshot! It goes on my favorites list. :)

Saw this on the Skwalkathon but I had to tell you what a phenomenal job you did again. Just amazing!! :)

Woot, first review ( or so the site says) Anyways, yet another awesome SW from you. Liked the whole thing, so nothing leaps out for positive comment, and I can't think of any constructive critisism to offer. You are one of my favorite SW authors though, you handle the characters far better than Lucas and his crew ever seem to, and he created em. Heh

I don't often write reviews on this site (partially because of my lack of account, and partially because most stories don't jump out at me), but I had to take a moment to post one for this story.

You write devistatingly well, and your characterization of Shmi is tragic, but completely appropriate for the tone of the story. I was impressed by the way you removed yourself from the normal trappings of a Luke/Vader fic (though this is more, it is so easy to fall into when dealing with their relationship) and I feel this is one of the best pieces I've come across in a while.

Good job.