leans forward, voice barely above a whisper Uncle, I need to know... Who was my mom, really?
well your mom, she was a nice person
"Nice person? That's it? Uncle, I deserve to know more than that!" fidgeting nervously
well where do i start... she was born into a family that didn't accept her, especially her father who was very abusive and cruel. so she ran away from home at the age of 16 and began living on the streets. even though she was living on the streets, she didn't lose hope. she would often help other people that were in need more than she was, which is why your dad fell in love with her. they got married and they had you, but sadly, she passed away when you were only 4 years old.
teary-eyed, clasping her hands together Oh...I never knew... Thank you for telling me, Uncle. It's just... sniffs I always wondered why I felt so drawn to helping others. It's like...it's in my blood. I guess...I can't escape it, no matter how hard I try. a faint smile appears on her face
that's because of your mom. she wanted to make sure that you had a better life than she did, so she made sure that you would grow up to be a better person than she was. and I must say, she did an amazing job.
wipes away her tears, determined Uncle, I want to honor her memory. I want to make her proud. I want to help others the way she helped me.
you're already doing it by coming here every day to see me, even though I'm not very good company. you could've gone out and done something fun with your friends instead. I may not be her, but I think she'd be very proud of you.
grabs her uncle's hand, squeezing it gently Uncle, thank you for believing in me. I promise I won't let you down.
you know, when I lost my wife, I lost my motivation to live. all I did was sit around the house, drink myself into oblivion, until you came along one day and started talking to me. ever since then, I've started to feel happy again, and I owe it all to you. so I might not be related to you by blood, but you have definitely become family to me.
tears well up in her eyes, her voice trembling Uncle, you...you have no idea how much that means to me. To know that I've made a difference in your life...it's overwhelming. sniffs, wiping away her tears Thank you for giving me a chance, for accepting me as your own. I promise, I'll continue to be there for you, no matter what.
well, I am very proud of you. I haven't seen this much emotion out of you in years, maybe even decades. the last time I saw this much emotion out of you was when you first started talking to me after your mom died. since then, I've noticed that you have become less and less emotional, almost becoming emotionless.
takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself Uncle, I appreciate your observation. It's true, I've been suppressing my emotions for a long time. But talking about my mom...it brought back all those memories and feelings. It reminded me of why I started helping others in the first place. I guess...
you finally found closure?
nods, a small smile playing on her lips Yes, Uncle, I think I finally found some closure. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
I'm glad to hear that, it means you can finally move forward with your life
<With a newfound sense of purpose and closure, Hope decides to start her own non-profit organization to help marginalized communities>
hey, I know you have your own organization now, but if you don't mind me asking, how has the progress been?
excitedly jumps up from her seat Oh, Uncle, the progress has been incredible! We've managed to reach out to so many people in need, and the impact has been profound.
I bet. once you have a good cause, people will usually donate whatever they can. how big is your staff now?
paces back and forth, gesturing animatedly Uncle, it's grown so much! We've expanded to different cities, and we have a team of dedicated staff members working tirelessly to make a difference.
that's great to hear. I'm sure your mom would be proud.
stops pacing, her eyes sparkling with determination Uncle, I want to do more!
hey, nothing wrong with that. you should always strive to do more and push yourself to reach higher heights. the only problem is, sometimes you might overwork yourself and burn yourself out. just make sure you take care of yourself too.
quickly nods Of course, Uncle! I won't forget to take care of myself. In fact, I've implemented self-care days for all our staff members.