Life is a simple word explaining the time of which someone is alive. Breathing, speaking and moving.
Death is the same. It is just a word, one that tells when that someone has stopped breathing.
It was such a simple word, yet such a painful thing.
It had never been something to worry her though, she was never afraid of it. She wasn't one to shun it like others.
She didn't welcome it, but she didn't despise it. It was all apart of living.
That theory changed. Because when death came the way it did, she truly thought it was a punishment. A punishment because she left. She broke the rules and left her love behind.
But then again, she wasn't the one death hit. It wasn't her who was killed. Who died.
It was the person she loved. The person she loved most. And he was just… gone.
"Toph, run!"
"I can keep them back!" she insisted, bringing a wall of rock shooting up before them; protecting them from the firebenders that attacked on the other side.
"No you can't! You still have a chance, now go!" he grasped her hand. "You can't hold it up forever!"
This was true; for they not only were in a cave, but a collapsing cave at that. She had one hand outstretched, attempting to keep the ceiling and wall up at the same time. Beads of sweat were forming on her forehead.
"So can you!"
"Toph, if we both run, they'll catch us. But if you drop everything now, you can earthbend yourself out of here before it caves in." he had let go of her hand, so she could use both for bending.
"I can bend both of us out of here."
"No you can't, you're tired and weak. We'll never make it. There's no sense in both of us dying! Now go!"
"But-"
"Toph, go."
She brought her blind eyes to where she knew he stood. "I don't…. want to lose you."
She didn't know what he was doing, but he had something. He pressed the item into her palm. "You won't."
As she stood, with on hand caressing the item in her hand, the other earthbending; he embraced her, lips pressing tightly into her.
Then he was gone. She had thrown her hands down in an instant to wrap her arms around his neck. But he threw her back, toward the entrance.
The wall had come down; the firebenders were raiding in upon them. The ceiling was crumbling. She was running, earthbending her way out.
She could feel him fighting; holding them back.
Just before she reached the entrance to the cave, she heard a faint echo, bouncing off the rock walls; up to her ears.
I love you.
She was outside. The cave was collapsed, the last bits of earth crashing down in the place she had been moments before.
She was down on her hands and knees, attempting to feel for any vibrations; any heartbeats.
None but the approaching people; her friends.
"Toph!" Aang knelt at her side. "Are you alright?"
She shook her head. She wasn't alright. Not one bit.
"Toph," Katara stood behind Aang, fear vibrating from her. "Where's Sokka?"
She didn't answer; merely stared blindly down at the item in her hand. It was the neck band he always wore.
She caressed it, fresh tears pouring down her face. "I love you."