A week went by, and there was still no news regarding Pamela.
Toph was young and soon forgot about it, but Zuko remained heavyhearted these days alongside his parents.
He was distracted in class for the first time and could not answer his teachers. As a result, a few troublemakers teased him.
He wanted to ask his parents where Pammy was, but he swallowed his words when he saw their grimaces.
Each time his mother talked to Linda on the phone, she cried. His father was distressed, and Robert came and left hastily all the time. Even Helen was always sighing, and her food did not taste as good anymore.
Zuko quietly entered his study. He had his own little study, which was his own private space. He opened the drawer of his writing desk, where a photo of him holding little Pammy was kept deep inside.
…
It was taken on Pammy's first birthday. The little girl had just learned to stand and walk. She was full of curiosity about the world, but because she could not walk steadily, she could fall at any time. Zuko followed closely behind her to protect her.
There were pebbles in the garden. When Pammy slipped, Zuko rushed out and threw himself on the ground before she fell, catching the little girl in his arms.
Pammy thought her big friend was playing with her and giggled happily. Zuko, on the other hand, scraped his arm. Seeing her laugh so happily, though, he could not help but smile too.
That was how the photographer captured the moment.
…
Zuko remembered that evening as particularly beautiful. The sky was filled with rosy clouds dyed pink and gold. There was a quiet private road in front of the Thompsons' house. He held Pammy's hand and stood at the end of the road, looking at the sky and clouds. A warm breeze blew, and cherry blossom petals fluttered down on them.
Pammy wore a fluffy pink dress and looked delicate, like a real princess. Zuko squatted down, pinched her chubby little face, and asked her with a smile, "When it's your birthday next year, I'll take you to catch fireflies in Southeast Aciatic, okay?"
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