I stood outside the doors of a hotel, deep in Republic City. I had just gotten back from Air Temple Island. With windswept hair, I stared at the large golden handles of the door, but somehow couldn't push it. Come on, push it. See your friends, I said to myself as I became more and more of a growing bundle of nerves. I don't know why it was so hard for me to do this, but it had been three years. The thought was like poison in my mind. I immediately stopped myself from making the comparison and gave myself a slight moment of panic before breathing out. The poison is gone, I told myself firmly for the thousandth time. I think, I thought, recalling my recent fight with Kuvira, which I had failed. Reflecting, I thought about how much I had changed. I was definitely not the person my friends knew when I left. When I left, I thought, feeling guilty. Only writing to Asami. Why did I- ARGH! My anxieties were getting the best of me. I placed my hand on the door handle. People shuffled by me, minding their own business. Will they even want to be friends with me anymore? Will our personalities be compatible? Will they even recognize me? I thought, touching my short hair with my free arm. With all the strength I had, I pushed open the door to the hotel. It shut with a quiet bang, and I felt trapped. Upbeat music was playing somewhere in the distance. I looked around the waiting room and saw Asami reading a magazine. She hadn't seen me yet. This shouldn't be this hard. I could still leave. I thought, reaching back towards the door. I stood in the foyer like an idiot, my heart beating viciously against my ears. I'll leave, I thought, starting to open the door. I surprised myself by letting go of the handle. I took a deep breath and marched up to Asami, but slowed my pace as I neared her. She still didn't see me. Last chance, I thought to myself. I stared at her reading for what was only a millisecond but felt way too long to be staring at someone. Say something! I screamed to myself. I took the final few steps forward. Asami finally noticed me and looked up with a quizzical expression.
"I hope you haven't been waiting long," I said awkwardly, with a broken smile. Asami grinned and stood up.
"Only three years!" she said, embracing me. Hearing her say three years almost made me cry on the spot. But as I held her in my arms, I felt an incredible warmth overcome me. Nearly all of my nerves went away. A few remained.
"It's so good to see you again!" Asami said, pulling away and putting her hands on my shoulders.
"You too," I said, holding back tears. I didn't know if they were from anger at myself, sadness, or happiness.
"And I'm loving the hair," she said, letting go of my shoulders. Every part of my mind exploded at this point. I reached up and grabbed my hair, the only word I processed.
"Thanks. You're looking snazzy as always," I said, feeling my cheeks scald with blood.
"Come on. Mako got us a table at the restaurant," Asami said, grabbing my hip to turn me towards the restaurant within the hotel. Will it still be weird seeing him? With our past? I asked myself on the walk over to him. We cleared that up, though. Right? I thought. Right? My nerves were acting up again. We entered through the doors of the restaurant and walked past many tables filled with conversing couples. Mako, who was leaning on a booth, looked at me, and beamed.
"Korra!" he said, walking over.
"Hi Mako," I said, raising my hand in greeting. We met each other and hugged. I no longer cared about anything in the world. Sensing Asami's presence behind me, I felt something I hadn't felt in a very long time. Companionship. And I realized how much I depended on it and loved it. Love. For the first time in three years, I felt love. Sure there was Katara, and Tenzin, and my parents, but this was different. I broke away from the hug and looked at my friends, truly hopeful for myself.
