Day 6 Strength
"I thought I was strong. I lived through so much in such a short time. My mother disappeared the same day my grandfather died and my father and sister turned on me. I was scarred for speaking and then banished, roaming the world by sea to find the world's last hope. I grew in strength, both physical and in firebending every day of my banishment. I had to. It was either get strong or die. The sea is a hard place to live and I lived there for three years before I was forced to cut my hair and become a refugee. Then things became harder. There was confusion within me, but I knew I was strong. I could survive and persevere. I laugh now as I think about how silly I was, trying to find a way to restore my honor back then. As if capturing a child and handing over the world's only hope would do anything important. As if it could prove how strong I really was to my father.
"I came to a realization later that year, just before the eclipse and became even stronger for it. I knew what I had to do, and did it. I joined the Avatar. It was the scariest thing I had ever done. Stand before a group of children and teens that I had chased around the world and say I was there to help. They hated me, all but you. You were different. You couldn't see, and yet saw me for who and what I really was. I was so ashamed that I had hurt you. But you forgave me almost instantly, and sought me out when I needed someone to listen.
"I thought I was strong until I saw you earthbend against Aang. Then I knew why a puny little girl of twelve could withstand so much. Later when we went to town and a few people talked rudely of you and your dirt and blind eyes, you brushed them off as if it was nothing, and I could see the core of steel within you. No matter what happened, you were as strong and stable as your element. The years passed and no matter what happened, you were the core of the group and held everyone together. Especially me. I needed you, your strength, and you never let me down. Through thick and thin, you were there. But now…now I'm not sure how to be strong. To think that a little thing like a cold could come to you and make such a mountain of strength fall is unexplainable. But you were so strong through it, I don't know how you did it. I miss you, and need you here. How can I be strong without you?"
He stood before the gravestone on the hill, white hair unbound and clinging to his soaked robe as he looked on the simple characters of the stone. Tears rolled down his face, mixing with the rain that poured on him and the stone. Behind it was a statue created by a young earthbender showing a woman holding a rock as if it didn't weigh a thing, and he just smiled through his tears at that. The daughter followed the mother, but now all had left him alone with her. Their friends, children and even grandchildren had already said goodbye, but he couldn't leave.
"I thought I was strong, but I wasn't," he said to the stone. "You were my strength, and I'm not sure how to go on now that you're gone."
The wind picked up and blew into his face, the warmth of coming spring and it lingered as if caressing him and he knew that she was talking to him, encouraging him. The words she had told him long ago came back to him and he told them to her.
"You're not strong because of muscles or power, but because you have to be. Inner strength comes from the heart and you said that I was always stronger than you. I miss you Toph, and I know that soon I will be by your side again."
With that he turned and started walking down the hill to his family and friends, knowing that she would be strong in waiting for him as he would be strong in waiting to get to her.