One need not be a chamber to be haunted
-Emily Dickinson
"My nephew, why did you not bid farewell to your friends?"
The Fire Lord posed the question to his heir in hopes of making him face what he felt, but Iroh hardly believed he would succeed. Besides that, he was truly curious. Zuko did not answer, as his uncle had expected. What his uncle did not expect, however, was the question he nephew posed in return.
"Uncle, why do you trust me?" Iroh disliked his nephew's insinuation so he tried to reassure him.
"I do trust you."
"Yes, Uncle, I know. But I need to know why." Iroh sighed.
"Why do we trust the sun will rise in the morning? Because it always does. Why do we trust that the Avatar will be reborn in a new cycle? Because he always is. There are some things in our lives we do not question simply because they are what they are."
"But…I betrayed you…" With this comment Iroh's patient demeanor was replaced with unrelenting sterness. Iroh would help Zuko understand if it took the rest of his life.
"Zuko. That time in your life is over. You must let it go, so you can trust yourself." The bitterness and self-loathing remained in Zuko's eyes. The Fire Lord turned to leave his nephew with his words. Before he had made a complete exit, however, he heard quiet words that stuck his feet to the floor.
"That's why I didn't say goodbye. She shouldn't trust me."