The next day, Aimee entered the kitchen and found her uncle already repairing the valve she had broken the yesterday.
"Good morning Uncle Tom, Please let me fix it as I was the one who broke it uncle." Feeling bad for what happened. She had planned to go to the market today to look for something she might use in repairing the faucet.
" You don't have to dear, this thing should have been replaced a long time ago as it is already old. You don't have to worry about it. Good thing you didn't get yourself hurt." Uncle Tom said without any hint of putting the blame on her.
"Thank you uncle tom..." Aimee whispered but enough for her uncle to hear. "... for everything."
"You need not burden yourself, Aimee. Even after the passing of your mother, my sister, I hold you in my heart as my own daughter.." Aimee's heart softened, but the heaviness of her conscience and guilt had haunted her for years, as she felt that she had been meddling in something she did not belong to.
She responded, "Uncle… I have been granted a scholarship by the university, and I ask that you use the money my mother saved for my education for Sofie instead, as she will soon be entering college."
Her uncle stopped what he was doing and turned to her, "Aimee dear it is for you. Your parents wanted you to feel you were supported even now that they're gone. I don't want to take it from you." he said with a calm voice. Aimee was dear to him. Her mother was the only sibling he had and who had cared and backed for him when he was in need. With her daughter now the only one left behind, he had raised and loved her as though she were his own. He will support her in every possible way even when life gets even harder.
"Don't worry about Sofie, I and your aunt got her. Please kept it, you wont know when you'll need it" Aimee was touched by her Uncle's words.
"Okay uncle." She responded softly.
After completing all her chores, she prepared herself for the night. Aimee gathered her chocolate-brown hair into a ponytail, securing it with a pale ribbon.
She ran hurriedly downstairs, and slowed down nearing the end when she found her uncle and family watching tv together in the living area. Reaching to her uncle but her cousin noticed her first and remarked. " So, where is Rapunzel going huh? trying to escape night chores?" making her Aunt and Uncle turned towards her, but Aimee paid no attention to her.
Though she often received stinging words from her cousin and aunt as though their hostility never spared her, Aimee knew that was simply the way they were, and she accepted it. She had learned to live with it for the past years and was just glad they never hurt her physically.
"Where you going somewhere Aimee?" her uncle asked.
"Yes uncle, Connie just got back from the South. She asked me to spend time with her tonight. I wish to go Uncle, Aunt " she gently asked thou hesitant whether her aunt will retort but she knows her uncle will let her because he trust her.
"Have you finished preparing your cousins clothes and breakfast for tomorrow? you know I was still having a headache from what you have done yesterday. I still probably have it tomorrow too which hindrance me from moving vigorously." long whined by her aunt.
Maybe it's Sofie's time exercise her hands Auntie. Aimee smiled internally brushing off the thought that had come to her mind. She nodded " Yes Auntie, I wrapped it in the fridge and just need a little reheat for tomorrow."
Her Aunt didn't retort any further and she heard her uncle's consent to go for the night, "Okay you should go, I heard a car honked a few minutes ago, that must be Connie" Aimee only nodded her head, "You two take care dear"
Aimee headed out the door and giggly hopped in her bestfriend's car.