Only you think of yourself,
Emily, please! begged her sister, dont abandon me. Without you I wont be able to get Jamie on his feet! I have no money, Im not working, and you earn quite well Emily, lend me at least ten pounds! I really need it. Ill pay you back, I swear. Maybe a little later
For Eleanor there was no one closer than her cousin Daisy. Their relationship with their mother had long since gone cold, and contact with her younger sister had faded after a decadesold family feud. Eleanor had always felt shortchanged because of that. She financed her own university degree, spent years searching for her place in the world, and when she finally began to earn a decent wage she first secured her own home took out a mortgage and bought a flat not far from the city centre.
Eleanor was diligent, never shying away from extra tasks; she often took projects and reports home, spending weekends on them. Daisy, by contrast, favoured lavish holidays and lived largely off the generosity of men, regularly borrowing money from Eleanor until her next payday. At first Eleanor saw nothing wrong with it.
One evening the telephone rang. The display read Daisy:
Hi, Ellie! How are you?
Hello. All good, Im at work. And you?
Daisy let out a long sigh.
Listen, Ive got a little problem. My landlord suddenly upped the rent and I need fifty pounds straight away or Ill be out on the street!
Eleanors heart skipped.
What? Why did he raise it?
He says its because everythings getting more expensive. Can you help me out?
Eleanor hesitated, weighing the request.
Id set aside that money for a holiday
Ellie, please! Ill pay you back in a few days. A handsome chap promised me some cash, Ill use that to settle the debt.
Daisy, Im saving for a break and
Cant you wait a couple of days? Please, Im begging you!
Eleanor sighed.
Fine but only for a few days. I dont want my holiday to be ruined by your irresponsibility.
Thank you ever so much! You have my card number, right? Send it over!
Eleanor transferred the sum. She never saw the money return.
***
Three months later, gathering her courage, Eleanor called Daisy:
Daisy, hello! How are you?
Oh, Ellie, hi! Im fine. What did you want?
Eleanors cheeks flushed with shame.
Daisy, remember you borrowed money from me?
Yes, of course. So?
I really need it back now. My phones broken, clients are calling and I cant hear them. I need a new one but Im broke Please, return the loan.
Daisy snorted.
Ellie, dont you think a halfpound phone is a bit extravagant? Maybe you could look at something cheaper?
Eleanor tried to justify herself:
Phones are pricey these days, and I need one for work, so Im looking for a decent model that can run the programmes I use.
Ellie, I simply cant give it back right now. I moved into a pricier rented flat, you can imagine the expenses.
But you promised
I remember, I remember! As soon as I sort out my finances Ill pay you back. Honest, I swear!
Eleanor, recalling the previous disappointment, let out a weary sigh. After several direct appeals and the usual excuses, she resigned herself to the loss.
Months later Daisy phoned again.
Ellie, I need your help urgently!
What now?
I need money. Anything.
Daisy, I told you Im tight myself. I havent even got my quarterly bonus yet.
Just a little! My purse is empty and Im constantly hungry, I dont know what to think!
Have you been to the doctor?
No time!
You havent worked for two months.
So what? Ellie, stop beating around the bush. Can you lend me some?
Eleanor exhaled.
The most I can spare is five or six pounds.
Five pounds? Youre joking!
Thats all Ive got, Daisy.
Fine, send the five.
Eleanor began to avoid Daisy as best she could, but her cousin kept popping up in her thoughts.
***
An unexpected pregnancy added another layer of trouble for Eleanor. Daisy was dating an ambitious bachelor and was convinced the child would secure a comfortable future. Eleanor disagreed. One afternoon, over tea, she gently voiced her doubts:
Daisy, maybe you shouldnt be counting on that fellow so heavily?
Why not? He loves me!
Youve only known him for a week. What child?
He truly loves me! As soon as he learns about the baby hell marry me.
It seems a bit reckless to rely on him. What if he doesnt marry you?
Then hell still support me and the child. Hes a decent man!
Better to rely on yourself
Oh, stop, Ellie! Youre just jealous! You dont have a man! Once the baby arrives everything will be fine.
A few months later Daisy arrived at Eleanors door in tears.
He he he left me!
Who left you? The man?
Daisy nodded, choking back sobs.
He said it wasnt his child. He said I have plenty of men and even threatened me if I tried to blackmail him!
I warned you
Dont say anything! Im already in a terrible state! What do I do now?
Daisy if youre not sure you can manage, perhaps you should consider ending the pregnancy?
Daisy erupted.
Are you serious?! Its five months! I delayed telling him so hed think I wasnt after money! Where do I go now?
You said you were scared you couldnt cope. What will you live on? You have no work, no money. Your father turned his back on you. Think clearly!
Enough, she wiped her eyes, Ill give birth and see what happens. Maybe Ill write a refusal letter, maybe hell change his mind. Can you lend me a bit for the start? The doctors vitamins are costly and Ive got not a penny left.
Eleanor sighed and opened her banking app.
***
Daisy collected her son from the hospital and almost instantly began shifting every new problem onto Eleanor, often requesting help under the excuse of caring for the child, even for the most trivial tasks. She would call from dawn till dusk:
Ellie, hi! Could you pop to the shop? Were out of milk and Jamie has woken up crying.
Daisy, its nine at night. Cant you go yourself? The shops just down the road.
I cant, my back went stiff this morning, I can barely move. And I dont feel like dressing Jamie. Please!
Eleanor sighed.
Alright, Ill go. But thats the last time.
Thank you, love! And grab a pack of nappies, oat milk, a bag of chicken breasts and some sausages. Ill wait for you!
When Daisys son fell ill, she would call in the dead of night demanding Eleanor fetch medicine from the oncall pharmacy:
Ellie, whats happened?
Jamie has a fever! I need help urgently!
What? We just spoke a few hours ago and everything was fine!
I dont know. Hes screaming, cant breathe. I need a fever reducer. I called a paediatrician I know, she advised me to get it from the night pharmacy.
Daisy, are you kidding? Just because a friend suggested it doesnt mean you skip a proper checkup! Call an ambulance!
No, the ambulance will just take him to hospital and put him down. At best theyll knock the fever down. I trust my paediatrician; she sells these fancy supplements Just bring what she said, please. Its for the childs health!
Thats over the line. Why should I run all over the city at midnight?
Hes crying! You dont want anything bad to happen to him, do you?
Eleanor forced down her irritation.
Fine, Ill be there shortly. But remember, this is the final time.
Every personal request Daisy made, even when unrelated to the baby, was couched as something essential for the child. Eleanor fed, clothed, and tended Jamie for nearly a year and a half.
Then she finally ran out of steam. The straw that broke the camels back was yet another demand.
Ellie, hello! I need a new dress urgently, Ive nothing decent to wear. And Jamie needs new shoes too
Daisy, thats enough! I cant do this any longer! You keep demanding things in the name of the child, and Im exhausted! I have my own life!
What do you mean exhausted? Who will help me then? Do you want my child to starve and wear rags?!
I want you to start taking responsibility for your own life and your childs. I wont keep supporting you!
You you selfish! All you think about is yourself! What am I supposed to do now?
Do what you will, but not with me.
Eleanor hit the end of her tether. Daisy spent the rest of the day bombarding her with insulting messages demanding money and apologies. Eleanor held her ground the brazen cousin never received either. The next morning, the first thing Eleanor did was rush to her office, change her phone number, and finally breathe a sigh of relief. Now she had a long road of reflection ahead, beginning with how she had arrived at this point in her life.
