Ba Sing Se Boarding High

Revelations

*Aang POV*

Emergency assembly. Avatar announced earlier. Identity revealed. Everything's falling apart. The facade I worked so hard to build is starting to crumble. Stay strong. Get through it. I CAN'T. IT'S TOO MUCH! 
"Not for this class," What? What's happening. I feel Toph's hand on my shoulder.
"We can fix this," No we can't. (Grammarly has this smiley emoji with glasses on my screen. Informative) I can't. I can't move. Toph drags me to the auditorium. Why? Pushing pushing pushing. I need time. Assembly. Three months. TIME. Everything is blurry. Black. 

When I come to, Toph is standing over me.
"Good, you're awake. Come one Twinkle Toes. We have to get going," She shakes me awake.
"How long was I out?"
"About thirty seconds. Let's go," She drags me to the assembly. Once we're seated, Katara squeezes my hand.
"Zuko told us everything. Sorry, it had to happen this way," She says.
"Thank you," I say. Maybe that wasn't what I was supposed to say. Dear lord, please don't make me walk up to the stage.
"The identity...." The teachers at the front drone on. I know this all already. Something about the Earth Kingdom's generosity. Yeah right. Generosity. I wish I was back home. I miss Appa and MoMo. And Gyatso. And my old life before the world went up in smoke. "Avatar Aang, would you please come to the front?" Agh. I feel my throat tickle with the incoming cough. I gulp it down. I can't afford to cough right now. I'm only hearing about every other word. I had a speech planned for when the world was supposed to learn, but I was supposed to be sixteen. There are cameras. The whole world is watching. I guess I just have to say that. The words aren't even real. I say them full of emotion, but I'm gone. I don't even know where I am. I can feel my body, but the emotion isn't there anymore. Just exhaustion and numbness. I carry on and on. What am I even saying anymore. I have to keep my eyelids from drooping. The stupid speech is over. 
"Thank you for that speech Avatar Aang. I hope you can fulfill those goals," The principal says. He puts a hand on my shoulder. Could he tell how fake I was being? I hope not. "You can head back to your seat," I want to run, but I walk slowly. Once I sit down, I'm ready to collapse. Keep your head for five more minutes Aang. 

The assembly is finally over. I run to the dorm and collapse. I'm sobbing and coughing and breathing heavily like the air is medicine. My chest is so tight. I can't move. My ears aren't working. I feel someone sit down next to me. I don't even care anymore. I'm so done. I feel like I'm on fire. I'm not ready for all this responsibility. The world is spinning. I get to just keep training right? I can just train and focus on school. That sounds like a good plan. 
"Uncle, this was a terrible plan! Why did you think this was a good idea?!" I hear Zuko yell.
"I'm sorry nephew. It was over my head. I could tell something was off during his speech. He's a very good actor though," I hear a calming voice say. If it was literally any other situation, I would feel better, but nothing is helping. All I got is that my fake ass speech passed. 
"Aang, come on. It'll be fine. You'll get used to..." Sokka starts to say.
"It's not okay! No matter how hard I try, everyone seems to think they know what's best for me, and I'm tripping and stumbling through life as is. There was supposed to be another YEAR!" I scream. I'm completely done. I'm not even apologizing for this one. Sokka backs away. My head hurts. I'm exhausted and nothing makes sense. I feel like my lungs are full of smoke again. Am I coughing? I can't even tell. Everything BURNS. 
"Listen, Aang, I know this is stressful, but you must calm down. It could be dangerous if you activate the Avatar State," Zuko's uncle says. Right, that thing. I need to calm down. Maybe this is all a bad nightmare. I fold myself into the lotus position. I need to meditate, but I can't level out my breathing. I force myself to calm down. But everything feels like it's burning. There's fire everywhere.