Affliction

When Katara told him that they could no longer be together, his world came to a screeching halt. Everything after, was a huge blur of excruciating pain and disbelief. He couldn't remember what happened; he refused to. When the memories of that day did unwillingly resurface, it usually occurred in the dead of night, when the moon is full and Katara's face is all he could dream of.

Tonight was one of those nights.

"Katara don't leave me!" the raven-haired man woke up shouting. He was panting, and sweating through his red bed sheets. He looked around the dark room, and slowly began taking in his present state. He recollected where he was and why. He was in a rundown hotel in a random Fire Nation town, and he was escaping the harsh reality that Katara had left him. He slowed his breathing and ran a hand through his growing hair.

"It was just a dream," he mumbled to himself unhappily, "It was just the…memory." Then another memory of Katara's comforting voice soothing him after his nightmares a long time ago, re-emerged. He shut his eyes tightly, quickly threw off this bedcovers and got out before he gave his bright colored eyes time to mist. He looked out of his window, which was overlooking the growing town. He didn't dare look to the sky, knowing that all he would see would be another full moon. Before they fell apart, they would spar every time there was a full moon, because Katara couldn't sleep. It was a night like this, when Katara came up to him with tears forming in her eyes and uttered those heart wrenching words.

"I don't love you….."

He sighed miserably, and went to sit on his bed. It was useless. Another melancholic night was awaiting him. He laid on his back, his eyes met the wooden ceiling. Then the torment began.

He vaguely recalled her lips moving after the confession, but no words coming out. There were a lot of tears, and he didn't think they were all coming from Katara. What he couldn't get out of his mind though, was the pleading, begging, the beseeching, from both parties; she, for his forgiveness, for not telling him sooner; he, for her to stay.

"Katara, please, don't go. I'll try. I'll try so much harder…"

"It's not enough…please, let me go."

It wasn't enough. He wasn't enough. It hurt. It hurt so much he thought he was going to lose his control; the control over his state which he worked so hard to attain. The next morning, Katara was gone; gone with all her belongings and presence that once filled their place; his home and heart.

The tears streamed down his face. He tried to muffle down a cry in his throat, but a low moan replaced it, only expressing a fraction of the agony he felt inside.

He fell asleep crying.

It was late the next morning when he woke up; his thoughts completely blank and empty. Only a dull ache in his heart lingered. He stayed in bed until midday. Only when his stomach demanded nourishment did he reluctantly get up to begin his day.

He tied a headband on to hide his conspicuous mark. He looked at himself one last time in the mirror, and he swore he can almost see Katara smiling, and coming up to give him a kiss on the cheek. He roughly looked away and slammed the door shut as he walked out.

He went to the closest restaurant to the hotel, and quietly ordered his meal. Several young women whispered and blushed as they walked by his table, but he paid no to attention to them. The only one he ever gave his attention to, was a beautiful waterbender, with long dark-brown hair, with the bluest eyes that could rival the ocean itself…..

"Excuse me, but don't I know you?" a feminine voice above him asked.

He opened his eyes, lost in his blue-eyed daydream; only to meet the brightest set ofsmiling brown eyes he'd ever seen.

"I don't know if you remember me…".

He was now at Katara's wedding. As the Avatar, and friend to the couple, he was given the honor to bless their union. Aang looked back as he thought about Zuko and Katara getting married and almost amazed himself at his blindness. Of course they would get together, the signs were all there, even back during the war. Subtle, but present, even if the two at the time were not aware.

As Aang waited next to Zuko before the alter, Zuko turned to him for a moment.

"Aang, I never did thank you for doing this…it means the world to me and especially to Katara. I just want you to know that, whenever you need help, or whatever comes up and you need someone there, you can always count on Katara and I here in the Fire Nation; or South Pole, depending on what time of year."

Aang smiled at his best friend and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks Zuko, but," Aang looked towards the crowd, and in the front row sat the love of his life, On Ji. She was talking to Lady Ursa, but soon noticed that Aang was looking at her. She blushed, but smiled and gently waved at him. Aang waved back and said "I think I'll be fine for awhile."

Katara was just as breathtaking in her wedding dress as he had once imagined. He smiled affectionately at the girl, no woman, who saved him from the iceberg that fateful day.

Aang raised his arm to quiet the crowd, and began the ceremony.

"We gather here today to witness the Union of Lady Katara of the Southern Water Tribe and Fire Lord Zuko of the Fire Nation…"

Later, during the reception, he watched as Katara and Zuko took their first dance as a married couple. Unwanted feelings began to emerge, but were quickly vanished as he felt On Ji squeeze his hand. He turned to look at her, and smiled brightly as he returned the squeeze

Aang learned that afflictions always leave deep wounds. With the right person though, they can always be healed.

He kissed On Ji on the lips, and thanked his past lives for giving him the best of friends and, finally, his true love.