Don't Stop Now [Finding My Path Sequel]

Chapter 5

Morning light poured through the cracks in the ship. I woke up to sun in my eyes and immediately sat up, realizing something was different. Lina wasn't here.

"Tomi!" she said. She looked like she had been awake for hours. I wondered what she thought when she woke up on top of me. "I've been waiting for you to wake up."

"Sorry," I replied sleepily, "you could've woken me. What time is it?"

"Around seven, but I couldn't sleep. Something was bugging me," she explained.

I nodded and rubbed my eyes, giving Lina his full attention. "What's up?"

"It's about my dad," she said hesitantly. I felt myself exhale. It wasn't about me, or last night. "I know you said he left the camp..."

"Shortly after you left," I replied. I had sent her a letter, only one, two weeks after she left. Nothing personal in it, only saying her dad left and that no one knows where he would've went. I never got a reply to it.

"Did he say anything? Where he was going? Why he left?"

I shook my head. "No. I like to think he wanted to go make something of his life, that maybe you inspired him, but... I have no idea."

"Oh. Okay. Thanks," she said quietly.

"I just feel bad. Letting him leave on his own. I felt like because of you I had a duty to keep him safe," I continued, going no where I could follow.

Lina sighed. "My dad isn't your responsibility. He's his own person. No one can change him."

"I like to think there was a time when you could."

"Then that time is long gone," was all she said in reply.

We ate breakfast, granola bars I stashed in my backpack, in silence. I was sure Lina was lost in thought, and I couldn't help but feel bad. Comforting wasn't my strongest area.

We sat in silence until I offered to walk up on deck and see how much longer it would be. Lina didn't argue, so I escaped into the fresh air.

Looking out onto the water vaguely reminded me of home--the watertribe that is. That was as close to home as it got.

Below the surface of the water, I could see vague objects floating--no, swimming. They were spirits.

Spirits were common now, but not in Republic City. Ba Sing Se must've been different. Less spirit controls, apparently.

Before getting too distracted, I found a crew member who told me we'd arrive in an hour and go from there.

Lina was still where I left her and seemed glad to be getting off the stuffy boat.

"The Earth Kingdom must be so different from the city," she said, thinking out loud.

"Yeah," I agreed, "I don't know many earthbenders, but I've never had a problem with them. Hopefully Ba Sing Se will reflect that."

"I hope your mom reflects that," Lina added.

I had been trying not to think too much about my mom, knowing that worrying wouldn't help, but the thoughts always managed to slip in. What if she hated me? What if I decided I didn't even want to talk to her? Would Lina be mad? "Do you think," I asked carefully, "this is a good idea? That I should meet her?"

She seemed to think about it for a bit. "I think it's only natural. Finding her might answer questions you've had, clear things up. If she's anything like you--or you're anything like her-- I think she'll be glad you came."

"Okay. Thanks. That makes me feel better," I said gratefully. A lot better. You always do.