The Snowfall That Thawed My Heart

Charlie's POV

The moment I hit "submit" on my application to Valmore College, my door burst open.

My mother, Kasey Chandler, stood in the doorway with a serious expression. "Charlie Holland! Get out here now! Who were you giving that look to at the dinner table? Wilson is your cousin! How can you be so rude? Apologize to him now!"

I didn't move from my chair. Staring at the "Submission Successful" message on the screen, I said calmly, "I don't have anything to apologize for."

"What?" Mom stormed over and grabbed my arm. "You're going too far! Are you saying my words don't mean anything anymore? You're apologizing today, whether you like it or not!"

She hauled me out of my chair and yanked me toward the dining table as I stumbled along.

My cousin, Wilson Chandler, had swollen eyes and was hugging Melanie Johnson, my girlfriend.

"Charlie, apologize to Wilson!" Mom ordered as she clutched my arm tightly.

Wilson immediately waved his hands. His voice trembled as he said, "No, Aunt Kasey. It's my fault. I made Charlie upset…"

Melanie chimed in, her voice tinged with annoyance. "Charlie, knock it off. We agreed that you'd go to the same college as me. There's nothing unreasonable about it. You're just making a fuss for no reason.

"Wilson isn't well. He can't handle this kind of stress. Apologize, and this will all be over."

I looked at the three of them, and suddenly everything felt absurd.

"I'm making a fuss?" I smirked. "I know exactly what I'm doing. I've already changed—"

Before I could finish, a loud slap rang across my face.

Mom had hit me with full force, knocking my head to the side. My vision flashed dark.

"How dare you talk back?" Her voice cracked, trembling with emotion.

"Charlie! After everything I've done for you, this is how you repay me? Don't you remember how hard things were after your dad passed away? I had to raise you on my own! We almost didn't make it through. And who helped us? Your Uncle Terry!"

Sobbing, she pointed a shaky finger at me. "He wasn't exactly well-off himself, yet when you were hospitalized with that fever, he was the one running around borrowing money just to cover your medical bills!

"And when he had that amazing job transfer opportunity, he turned it down just so he could stay close and look after us. I'm indebted to him for life! I'll never be able to pay him back!

"Now that your Uncle Terry and Aunt Juliet are gone, I have to take care of their only son. I have to do right by him! That goes for you, too. Don't you dare bully him!"