Voices- Day 3
Katara's POV
Sitting in my apartment in Ba Sing Se, I ruffle through the shoebox full of many amounts of love letters unsent. I go through one by one reading every line, regretting that I never sent them. One letter in particular had a tear stain smudging a sentence that look far too familiar to be 'I love you.'
Dear Zuko,
It's been a while since you came to Ba Sing Se. I've helped the Earth King with his Earth Kingliness. I've also been helping your Uncle with his tea shop. Being with your Uncle reminds me of you a lot so I spend as much time as I can with him. Your Uncle has recently made renovations in his tea shop. One morning I walked in to see that painting Sokka made hung over one of the tables. It makes me laugh seeing your hair spiking up like a porcupine every morning. When will you be able to come and visit Ba Sing Se? To tell the truth I have looked for a letter from you everyday since I've visited last year. I remember the warm nights we would spend outside by the pond, due to nightmares. I remember, that night when you reached up to hold my hand. I will never forget it. I wish you would have time to write to me, or do you not want to? Please write to me even if it is just a few words. I miss you and the turtle ducks. I just want you to know, whatever fate may bring or time can do.
I'll still love you.
Love, Katara, peasant, and waterbender
My heart wrenched as I folded up the piece of my heart disguised as crinkled, yellowing paper. Today I was supposed to go into the tea shop but Iroh had suspected something. I knew, deep down, that Iroh knew my dilemma. Call me crazy but Iroh can read people's minds like books. He hasn't told me directly just to send my letters but has given me hints. For one, he has hung a handsome portriat of Zuko in the kitchen, above my station. Sometimes my heart aches so much I sneak whiskey into my tea-cup. I remember one particular day where I snuck away for some whiskey Iroh aruptly stopped me,
"Sometimes, in life you must make a tough decision. I once came across a rare white dragon bush. Its leaves make a tea so delicious it's heartbreaking! That, or it was the white jade bush, which is poisonous. In the end I took the chance because I love white dragon tea." Iroh smiled from ear to ear holding his tea-cup in pride.
"Was it white dragon bush?"
"That's not the point." She remembered Iroh trying to rub the blush off his face. "The point is there is nothing wrong with letting people know you love them. Even if you might think it could end badly, but if you make the right choice it could turn into something beautiful."
I pondered on the thought while putting the lid on top on my shoe box keeping the letters for another day.
Little did Katara know was that Zuko had two shoe boxes full of love letters, pondering on the same advice his uncle gave him. These are the words unspoken. These are the voices unheard.