All Chapters of SUBMISSION 101: Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

My breath hitches in my throat as Professor Harlan’s fist collides with the wall just to the left of my head, sending a framed diploma shooting toward the ground. I swallow thickly as the glass shatters at my feet, whispers of jagged edges ricocheting off the floor to lick at my ankles, pressing myself back against the wall in a swift motion of pure instinct.“Shut up,” he roars. The words mingle with hot air, rolling off him like steam, fanning over my face and making me dizzy.Inhaling on a shuddering breath, I try my best to steel myself. I couldn’t be pressed harder against the wall, my body flat and stiff and afraid, as if I am melding into it. His knee ghosts between my legs, I realize. I swallow thickly and lift my chin. Never once do my eyes leave his, not even when the frame shot off the wall inches from my head. Is that bravery?“I’m not afraid of you,” I breathe, feeling my legs tremble. In a matter of seconds warmth and wetness pool between my thighs. Interna

I can’t believe what I am hearing. In fact, I am sure I have misheard him altogether, but that is okay. He doesn’t need to say it again. He doesn’t need to clarify. He doesn’t need to divulge. Not right now. Not tonight. Maybe he never will.Maybe he will never be able to.Maybe it doesn’t matter.Silently, I take a step forward, letting the cool water of the shower bathe over me too, slowly drenching my body. I sink to my knees at his side. He doesn’t lift his gaze. That is alright, too. I know, as I draw myself to his level, so close to him, that I will defend him. I am not sure what there is to defend. He has exiled himself, years ago, from his own life, his own family. He has been lost. I know that. But I am his. Unwaveringly. Nothing, and no one, will ever harm him again.And he is not fighting me anymore.Slowly, I outstretch a palm, letting it land softly against his cheek. At a gentle, glacial pace I draw his face back up, bringing his gaze toward mine.

“Your grandmother?” I sputter for the umpteenth time as I chase after Professor Harlan, who is busy stuffing last-minute items into his overnight bag while racing toward the car.“Yes.” He answers without looking back, tucking in pieces of clothing that stick out of the lip of his bag.“Are you sure we have to go to the airport?” I ask, huffing as I pump my legs to keep up with him. “I mean… I thought you guys would have a family jet or something.”“We do, but do you see a runway anywhere?” he quips Professor Harlan. “Get in.”Without another word of argument, I climb into the car beside him. I do not have a change of clothes with me, or any other essentials for that matter. But after everything that has happened tonight, there is no force in heaven or on earth that can keep me from staying by his side. It all makes me wonder just how much about his family I still do not know.There is no time to plan or look for a flight. Our best bet is to show up at the airpor

Mara stands planted in the doorway of the study, a man just off her shoulder. Leia rises on trembling legs, reaching out her arms as she steps slowly toward the pair.“Luke,” she breathes. Mara steps aside so Leia can wrap her arms around her brother. He closes his eyes as he holds her against him, face looking old and weary.I can tell he was handsome in his prime; not that he is not good-looking now. But the circles under his eyes are dark and prominent, his features appearing more exhausted than they might on any other day. I look down at my feet, suddenly feeling as though I am intruding on Leia and her brother. But then I remember: Professor Harlan is still upstairs.And he has no idea his uncle is here.My stomach flips deep within my gut and I bring my gaze up again. I blanch to find Luke’s eyes now on me, narrowing slightly as if trying to piece together why a young woman, roughly the age of his nephew, stands in his sister’s home on such a serious and bleak

“Not today,” Professor Harlan whispers through gritted teeth. “But someday.”Luke gives a curt nod and a slight smile, only tugging his gaze away from his nephew when the floorboards creak from the entrance to the study.It is Leia, looking stoic but patient, eyeing the two of them cautiously.Luke pats Professor Harlan’s cheek. Harlan’s eyes flicker to the floor, but he allows it. Turning on his heel, Luke exits the study, passing Leia as he goes, who slowly, carefully makes her way toward her son.“I’ve been waiting years for you two to hash it out,” she says. “And all in all, it didn’t seem to take very long.”“I guess it’s easier to make amends when someone is dying.”“A sad thought,” she says, landing in front of Professor Harlan, letting her gaze land in his. “But it’s never necessary to wait until it’s too late.”Professor Harlan sighs; part of him wants to apologize. A part of him does not know how. A part of him feels like he has his entire lifet