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Dear mum and dad,
Before you rip up this letter in disgust, please just listen. Listen for once in your life to your only daughter, and pay attention. You need to hear this, and I needed to say it.
I’ll start by saying that I’m sorry.
I’m sorry that I left, but I’d like you to know that I’m doing ok. I’m actually great; I’m helping Aang save the world by teaching him earthbending but even better, for the first time in my life, I feel... free!
I can’t imagine how you must’ve felt when I left. And I’m not heartless, you know. I probably hurt you really bad. I get it. But, please know that I needed to. I couldn’t just stay protected from the world forever, wrapped in cotton wool and on display like some kind of fancy prop. I needed to go out into the world, I needed to meet people -real people- and I needed to laugh and cry and be angry. It wasn’t a want, but more like a need. Plus, I’m serving a purpose in this world that isn’t being a pretty, presentable lady. I’m teaching Aang how to earthbend like I mentioned before and -not to brag- I think I’m doing a pretty good job of it. It may seem strange to you,me going off into the world and leaving you behind to teach a twelve year old boy and travel the world with him and his friends who I had only just met. But, for the first time in my life, I had to think about what’ll be good for the world, not just what’ll be good for me.
Please try to understand why I left. The way you treated me -so fragile and helpless- made me want to burst into tears and scream at the top of my lungs even on the best of times. Wanna know why? Well, it just wasn’t who I was. I’m not obedient. I’m not helpless. I’m not ladylike. And I’m sorry I wasn’t the girl you hoped I would be. But you didn’t love who I was; only who you wanted me to be. And that girl you see isn’t me. It wasn’t, it isn’t and it never will be. You probably find it hard to look at me and see a rough, violent girl, but you’re looking at the real me: I’m hardcore, stubborn, blunt, sassy, powerful and the greatest earthbender in the world!
Phew! It feels good to get that off my chest; it was bottled up in my head for way too long. But, aside from that, I’m doing great. Aang has made so much progress and, to be honest, I’m really proud of him. I do genuinely think he can win this war. I know you may not care much; I was never touched by the war until Aang, Katara and Sokka. But, I still think it’ll be of interest to you. I’m saving the world, mum and dad. I'm helping people, and making a difference. I hope that you’ll be proud of me. Oh, by the way, you might have heard of metalbending? Well, I invented it! Honest.
I’ve made one final decision: I won’t contact you after this. This is the last letter I’ll ever send to you. And, whether you respond or not is up to you; I don’t really care either way. I’ll send Sokka’s hawk (please send him back, we really need that back) to you and -should you receive this- please don’t tear it up. Listen, because, you never know, it may do you good sometime.
Love,
Toph Beifong x
P.S. Katara -the water tribe girl- wrote all this down for me.
P.P.S. I really am sorry for leaving, but I guess this is goodbye.