Only think about yourself, the voice whispered, a thin echo in a hallway that seemed to stretch forever.
Please, Sophie, dont leave me. Without you I cant get Ian on his feet! Ive got no money, Im not working, and you earn a decent wage Sophie, lend me at least ten quid! Ill pay you back, I swear just a little later.
Sophie Hartley had never been close to her cousin Elsie Whitaker. Their mother had vanished from their lives years ago, and a longstanding family feud had kept the bond with her younger sister cold. From childhood Sophie felt the sting of being shortchanged. She taught herself at university, spent years searching for a place to belong, and when she finally earned enough, she bought a flat near the centre of London, signing a mortgage that felt like a golden cage.
Sophie worked relentlessly, never refusing extra tasks, often hauling projects home and sacrificing weekends. Elsie, by contrast, chased luxury holidays and lived off the generosity of men, constantly borrowing money from Sophie until her next payday. At first Sophie saw nothing wrong with it.
One evening the phone rang. The screen glowed with Elsies name.
Hey, Sophie! Hows it going?
Hey. All good, just working. You?
Elsie sighed, a sound that seemed to pull the rooms curtains aside.
Sophie, Ive got a little problem. My landlord just hiked the rent and I need fifty thousand pounds straight away or Ill be out on the street!
Sophies heart thumped like a drum in a foggy dream.
Why the jump? Whats happened?
She says its because everythings getting more expensive now. Can you help?
Sophie hesitated, thoughts swirling like smoke.
Ive set aside money for a holiday
Please, Sophie! Ill pay you back in a few days. A handsome chap promised me cash, Ill return it to you.
Elsie, Im saving for a trip, and
Cant you wait a couple of days? Please!
Sophie exhaled, the air tasting of stale tea.
Fine but only a few days. I dont want my holiday to go up in flames because of your irresponsibility.
Oh, thank you! Do you have my card details? Send it over!
She sent the money, but the promised return never arrived.
Three months later, gathering courage, Sophie called Elsie.
Hi, Elsie, how are you?
Oh, Sophie, hi! All fine. Whats up?
Sophies voice trembled with shame.
Remember the money you borrowed?
Yes, of course. What about it?
I need it back now. My phones broken, clients are calling and I cant hear them. I need a new one, but Ive got no cash Please, give me back the loan.
Elsie snorted.
Sophie, a new phone is a luxury. Maybe you could get something simpler?
Sophie tried to defend herself.
The equipment is pricey these days, and I need it for work, for the heavy programmes I run.
Sophie, Im really strapped at the moment. Ive moved into a pricier rented flat, you know how the bills pile up.
But you promised
I remember, I remember! As soon as I sort my finances, Ill pay you back. Honest, honest.
Sophie sighed, recalling past disappointments. After several direct pleas met with the same evasive excuses, she resigned herself to the loss.
Months later, Elsie called again.
Sophie, I need your help urgently!
What now?
I need money, even a little.
Sophie, I told you Im tight. The quarterly bonus hasnt come through yet.
Just a bit! My wallet is empty, and my stomach keeps growling. I dont know what to think!
Did you see a doctor?
No time!
You havent worked in two months.
So what? Sophie, stop talking in circles. Will you give me money?
Sophie exhaled.
The most I can spare is five or six thousand pounds.
Five thousand? Are you mocking me?
Thats all I have, Elsie.
Fine, send five.
Sophie tried to avoid Elsie, but the cousin kept resurfacing like a persistent shadow.
Then an unexpected pregnancy added another layer of turmoil. Elsie was seeing a promising bachelor and was convinced the child would secure a comfortable future. Sophie, however, was sceptical. Over a cup of tea, she gently voiced her doubts.
Elsie, maybe you shouldnt rely so heavily on this gentleman?
Why not? He loves me!
Youve known each other barely a week. What child?
He loves me truly! As soon as he learns about the baby hell marry me.
It feels reckless, Elsie. What if he doesnt?
Hell still provide for us. Hes a decent bloke!
Better to count on yourself
Come off it, Sophie! Youre just jealous! You dont have a man! When the baby arrives everything will be fine.
A few months later, Elsie showed up at Sophies flat in tears.
He he he left me!
Who left you?
The man.
Elsie nodded, choking on sobs.
He said it wasnt his child. He said I have plenty of men like him and even threatened me if I blackmailed him!
I told you
Dont say anything! Im already ruined! What do I do now?
If youre not sure about your strength, perhaps consider terminating the pregnancy?
Elsie erupted.
Youre saying what? Its five months! Ive been stalling so hed think I wasnt after money! Where do I go now?
But you said youre scared you cant cope. How will you live? You have no job, no cash. That bloke walked away, refusing the child. Snap out of it!
Enough, Elsie wiped her face. Ill have the baby and see what happens. Maybe Ill write a refusal letter, maybe hell change his mind. Can you lend me something for the first weeks? The doctor prescribed expensive vitamins and Im broke!
Sophie sighed, opened her banking app, and transferred what she could.
Elsie soon collected her son from the hospital and immediately began shifting her troubles onto Sophie, constantly demanding help under the guise of caring for the childeven for the smallest chores. She called from dawn till night.
Sophie, hi! Can you pop to the shop? Ive run out of milk and Ian is crying.
Its nine at night, Elsie. Cant you go yourself? The shops just around the corner.
I cant. My backs aching since morning, I can barely crawl. And I dont feel like dressing Ian. Please!
Sophie inhaled a weary breath.
Fine, Ill go. But this is the last time.
Thank you, love! Then grab a pack of nappies, oat milk, a bag of chicken breasts, and some sausages. Ill be waiting!
When Elsies son fell ill, she could summon Sophie at midnight, demanding a trip to the emergency pharmacy.
Sophie, Ian has a fever! I need help now!
What? Just a moment ago we were fine, we spoke a few hours ago!
I dont know. Hes screaming, cant breathe. I need a fever reducer. A paediatrician I know suggested it, so just buy it from the oncall pharmacy.
Sophie, are you serious? No exam, just a recommendation? Call an ambulance!
No ambulance! Theyll take him to the hospital, give him a drip, maybe lower his temperature. I trust the paediatrician; she sells these fancy supplements. Just fetch it, please, for the childs health!
This is too much. Why should I drive across town in the dead of night?
But hes crying! You dont want anything bad to happen to him, do you?
Sophie swallowed her irritation.
Alright, Ill come, but remember, this is the final time.
Every request, even the trivial, was wrapped in for the child. Sophie fed, clothed, and medicated Ian for over a year and a half. Eventually the strain broke her.
The last straw arrived with a new demand.
Sophie, I need a new dress pronto, I have nothing to wear. And Ian needs new shoes too.
Elsie, stop! I cant do this any longer! You keep demanding things for the child and Im exhausted! I have a life too!
What do you mean exhausted? Who will help me then? Do you want my child to go hungry and wear rags?!
I want you to take responsibility for your own life and your child! Im done supporting you!
You selfish thing! All you think about is yourself! What am I supposed to do now?!
Do whatever you want, but without me.
Sophie pressed the stop button on the endless barrage of messages, changed her phone number at work, and finally breathed a sigh of relief. The morning after she walked into the office, she felt the weight lift, and the first thought that rose was how shed ended up in this tangled dream.
