Emma, please, dont leave me! begged her sister, her voice shaking. I cant get little Jack on his feet without you. Ive got no money, Im not working, and you earn decently Just lend me ten pounds, I swear Ill pay you back as soon as I can.
Emmas only close relative was her cousin Grace. Their mother had long since cut ties, and a bitter family feud kept Emma apart from her younger sister. From a young age Emma felt shortchanged by the familys neglect. She scraped together a university degree on her own and spent years searching for her place in the world. When she finally earned a decent salary, she first secured a home of her own took out a mortgage and bought a flat just off the centre of London.
Emma was diligent, never shying from extra work. She often hauled projects and reports home, sacrificing weekends to finish them. Grace, by contrast, lived for luxury holidays and subsisted mainly on the generosity of men, habitually borrowing from Emma until the next payday. At first Emma saw nothing wrong with it.
One evening the telephone rang. The display read Grace.
Hi, Emma! How are you?
Hello. All good, busy as ever. And you?
Grace sighed heavily.
Listen, Ive got a bit of a problem. My landlord just hiked the rent, and I need fiftythousand pounds straight away or Ill be out on the street!
Emmas heart jumped.
What? Why now? Whats the reason?
She says its because everythings getting more expensive. Can you help me out?
Emma hesitated, weighing the request.
I had set aside some money for a holiday
Emma, please! Ill pay you back in a few days. A handsome chap promised me a loan, and Ill return the favour to you.
Grace, Im saving for a vacation, and
Emma, cant you hold out a few days? Please!
Emma sighed.
Fine but only for a couple of days. I dont want my holiday to go up in smoke because of your irresponsibility.
Thank you ever so much! You have my bank details, right? Send it over!
She sent the money, but the repayment never came.
Three months later, emboldened, Emma dialled Grace.
Grace, hello! How are you?
Oh, Emma, hi! All right, whats up?
Emma felt a wave of shame.
Grace, remember the money you borrowed?
Yes, of course. What about it?
I really need it back now. My phones broken, clients cant reach me, I need a new one but Im flat broke. Could you please return the loan?
Grace scoffed.
Emma, dont you think a halfpound phone is a bit lavish? Maybe look for something cheaper?
Emma tried to justify herself.
Its expensive nowadays, and I need a decent device for work, the programs I run are heavy
Emma, Im in a tight spot myself. Ive just moved into a pricier rented house, you can imagine the outgoings.
But you promised
I remember, I do! As soon as I get my finances sorted, Ill pay you back, honestly.
Emma, recalling the earlier disappointment, let out a weary sigh. After several direct appeals and the usual evasions, she resigned herself to the loss.
Months later Grace called again.
Emma, I need your help urgently!
What now?
I need money. Anything you can spare.
Emma, I told you Im struggling too. My quarterly bonus still hasnt arrived.
Just a little, Im broke as a bean. My stomachs growling, I dont know what to think!
Did you see a doctor?
No time!
You havent been working for two months.
Whatever. Stop talking nonsense. Can you give me something?
Emma sighed.
The most I can spare is five to six pounds.
Five pounds? Are you joking?
Thats all I have, Grace.
Fine, send the five.
Emma began to avoid Grace, but the cousins reminders were relentless.
Graces unexpected pregnancy added another layer of trouble. She was dating a promising bachelor and was convinced the child would secure a comfortable future. Emma, however, was skeptical. Over tea she tried to voice her doubts.
Grace, perhaps you shouldnt count on that chap so heavily?
Why not? He loves me!
Youve known him for barely a week. What child?
He truly loves me! Hell marry me as soon as he learns about the baby.
I think youre being frivolous. What if he doesnt marry?
Hell support us both; hes a decent fellow!
Grace, you should be preparing for yourself
Stop it, Emma! Youre just jealous because you have no man! The baby will sort everything.
A few months later Grace turned up at Emmas door in tears.
He he he left me!
Who left you? The man?
Grace nodded, choking on sobs.
He said the child wasnt his. He has a swarm of women like him, and he even threatened me if I tried to blackmail him!
I told you
Dont say any more! Im miserable enough! What do I do now?
Grace if youre not confident, maybe consider terminating the pregnancy?
Grace erupted.
Youre talking nonsense! Its five months! Ive been dragging it out so hed think I wasnt after money! Where will I go now? I have no job, no cash. That bastard has walked away.
Grace think clearly. Youll need to support yourself and the child. Perhaps write a letter to the father, or hope he comes round.
Enough, she sobbed, wiping her face. Ill have the baby and see what happens. Maybe Ill get a grant or hell change his mind. Can you lend me something for the first few weeks? The doctors prescriptions and vitamins are costly and Im penniless.
Emma opened her banking app and transferred what she could.
Grace later collected her son from the hospital and immediately began shifting her burdens onto Emma, constantly demanding help under the pretense of caring for the child, even for trivial errands. She called from dawn until dusk.
Emma, could you pop to the shop? Weve run out of milk and Jack is wailing.
Its nine at night, Grace. Cant you manage? The shops just down the road.
I cant, my backs killing me and I cant be bothered dressing Jack.
Fine, Ill go, but this is the last time.
Grace then bombarded Emma with a list of purchases nappies, oat milk, chicken breasts, sausages and waited expectantly. When Jack fell ill, she would wake Emma in the dead of night demanding emergency medicine from a 24hour pharmacy.
Emma, Jack has a fever! I need you to get him something straight away!
What? He seemed fine an hour ago when we spoke!
I dont know. Hes screaming, cant breathe. I called a paediatrician I trust, she said I need a specific remedy from the nightshift chemist.
Grace, are you serious? Thats reckless without a proper check. Call an ambulance!
Shell take him to hospital, give him a drip, maybe knock the fever down. I trust her, she sells those fancy supplements.
This is too much. Why must I trek across town at night?
But hes crying! You dont want anything bad to happen to him, do you?
Emma swallowed her irritation.
Alright, Ill be there, but remember this is the final time.
Graces requests, even the mundane ones, were always framed as essential for the child. Emma fed, clothed, and treated Jack for over a year and a half, and eventually she simply ran out of steam. The last straw was another demand.
Emma, I need a new dress, Ive nothing to wear, and Jack needs new shoes too.
Grace, thats enough! I cant do this any longer! Youre constantly demanding, always saying its for the child, and Im exhausted! I have a life of my own!
What do you mean exhausted? Who will look after my child then? Are you saying he should starve and go naked?
Im saying you must take responsibility for your own life and your child! Im not going to keep supporting you!
You selfish thing! You only think of yourself! What am I supposed to do now?
Do what you must, but without me.
Emma hit the end call button. Grace spent the rest of the day sending abusive messages, still demanding money and apologies. Emma held her ground the brazen cousin never got the answer she wanted. The next morning Emma went to her office, changed her phone number, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Now, looking back, Emma knows she must untangle the tangled web of choices that led her here, and the first step is to understand how she arrived at that point in her life.
