Back Home: Chapter 3
"Home" was silent. Toph sat in her room fidgeting with her metal bracelet. She sighed. "I wonder what Sokka's thinking right now," she pondered.
It had been three weeks after her surprised arrival back home to her parents. Three weeks since the tears of joys and sorrow, confessions and understanding, hugs and kisses, apologies and forgiveness that come when a sincerely missed runaway comes back home. They had accepted her, everything should have been okay now, but it wasn't.
"Toph" her mother called unsurely from around the corner. Even though it had been three weeks, her mom's voice still shook whenever she spoke Toph's name because truly, she still didn't really know her daughter. Back before Toph had joined the Avatar, her parents already had no idea who she really was. As of this moment, she was almost unrecognizable. Her hair was long, her attitude was tough and although her eyes remained blind Toph had seen things and done things that changed her as a person.
"Toph!" her mother called again. "Your father and I want to take you to...." Her mother's voice stopped as she approached room. She found Toph sitting on her bed, dazed. "Toph? You okay?"
"I think so…."
"You sure?"
"No….no I don't think I'm ok…"
"Are you sick?"
"No."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing….just…nothing."
"Ok…." Her mother's voice was timid. Weak. Confused.
Toph's voice was apologetic. "I just kind of want to go home that's all."
"You are home."
"I mean back to the Avatar"
"Oh…"
"I mean never mind. I know this is home. It just feels…" She struggled for the words. "empty."
"I'm sorry Toph. I'm sorry that you can't live here comfortably anymore. I'm not sure you ever were comfortable her and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"I know…its not your fault." Small tears drifted down Toph's face.
"I don't want you to leave again. Not until your older."
"I know."
"Maybe eighteen, maybe then." Her parents had adjusted to Toph's wants and needs as her own person but they were still protective. When her mother said eighteen, she meant it.
The next morning, Toph awoke saddened. If she wasn't blind, she would have escaped in the night, but she couldn't leave without saying goodbye or else her parents would worry even more and because she was blind and couldn't write, she had to say goodbye in person.
"Look, I know, that we tried to work it out. You did. I missed you, I came back, and we tried to work it out. But I can't live here."
"It's your home Toph."
"I'll come and visit."
"Don't make us let the guards on you."
"I defeated hundreds of firenation troops. Skilled fire nation troops. The guards won't hold me back. Please…just let me go."
Her parents stared at each other. "Ok…" They sad at last. "See you soon. I hope we see you soon."
Honestly, Toph knew that she was leaving the one place where she was and felt the safest. But it wasn't like Toph to want "safe". She wanted adventure. She wanted to go back to the gaang.