After giving up on pursuing love, the uncle regretted it
Chapter 1
The year I turned twelve, I became an orphan.
My mom’s best friend took me in.
He told me to call him Uncle Michael.
I didn’t know then how much that name would
tie me down.
Not until years later, the day I confessed my
feelings and he rejected me.
He said, “Hayley, I’m just your Uncle Michael.
That’s all I’ll ever be.”
eye
affection.
I was overcome with shame and ran.
ace
OT
I applied to the farthest college I could find.
I started a new life, got a boyfriend, but
Michael cornered me one day, demanding to
know what I thought he was to me.
I looked up, met his gaze. “You’ll always be
my Uncle Michael. That’s it.”
1:
“Hayley, are you sure about this study abroad
thing?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“Well, to really get ahead in dance, going overseas can be great. But it’s not cheap.
The schools you’re looking at? At least
twenty grand a year. You should really talk
this over with your family.”
“Okay, thanks, Ms. Davison. I will.”
I hung up and finally got the nerve to call
Michael.
But the busy signal killed my courage
instantly.
Then, the phone rang. Michael calling back.
He was silent for a long time. I hesitated.
“Uncle Michael, could I borrow twenty
thousand? I’ll pay you back, I promise.”
He scoffed. Cold. “Hayley, I didn’t know you
were so jealous you’d use this as an excuse
to test me.”
Before I could say a word, he hung up.
I froze, not understanding. Then I saw his new
girlfriend’s post. A purse that cost twenty
grand.
The caption: “Money talks, and so does love!
Thanks to my amazing Michael!
@MichaelThompson.”
His accusation felt like a punch in the gut.
I called back a bunch of times. Busy, busy.
Then he just blocked me.
He wouldn’t even give me a chance to
explain.
Not long ago, we trusted each other…
Tears came without warning.
I remembered when I lost my parents.
He was like some kind of savior.
He took me in.
At first, I was just grateful.
But somewhere along the line, that changed.
Maybe it was when he stayed up all night,
trying to comfort me after Mom and Dad
died.
Maybe it was when the mean kids at school
said I was cursed, and he marched right back
there to get them to apologize.
Maybe it was that first period. He was bright
red in the face, but he still bought me pads
and showed me how to use them.
Or maybe it was when he said he didn’t want
anything in life but to see me happy.
But his favor and affection vanished three
months ago.
That’s when he turned down a great woman.
He said, “Sorry, I already have Hayley.”
We were only nine years apart, and his words
made me reckless.
<
I blurted out how I felt.
He frowned, hard. “You’re young, Hayley. You
don’t know the difference between like and
love. Don’t bring it up again.”
I pushed. Wouldn’t let it go.
Finally, his voice dropped. “How can I date
someone with an eighteen–year–old niece
hanging around?
“If you were smart, you’d know you’re holding
me back. So, just drop it.”
Niece. Burden. Fantasy.
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