The Relative
A young couples quiet Sunday took an unexpected turn when someone knocked on their door in the late afternoon. The husband peeked out and saw a dishevelled, grubby man standing thereno bag, no backpack, nothing. The stench was unbearable.
Before the husband could ask what he wanted, the stranger blurted, Can I see Holly? Then he shouted, Holly, come here, please, Holly!
His wife appeared, studied the stranger carefully, and drew a blank.
Desperation flickered in the mans eyes. Holly, Im your cousin, Alfie. Weve never met, but Im in troubleplease dont let me die out here.
They let him in, though holding their breath was a struggle. Leaning against the door, Alfie looked ready to collapse. Ive hitchhiked and walked hundreds of miles, slept in fields, sold my phone, beggednearly got arrested, he wheezed. Then, with the same pleading look: My wife kicked me out, my mum slammed the door in my face. Youre all Ive got, Holly. Please help.
The tiny hallway felt suffocating. They couldnt just chuck him out, could they? So they sent him to the shower, handed him clean jeans and a T-shirt, and stuffed his filthy clothes straight into a bin bagoff to the rubbish heap they went.
Freshly scrubbed, Alfies eyes darted toward the kitchen. What now? Holly sat him down at the table, but her husband pulled her aside. Were not seriously keeping this mess, are you mad? Hell rob us blind or worse. Boot him outcharities exist for this exact thing.
Holly refused. Not because he was family, but because he was a human being.
Then they watched as Alfie devoured soup straight from the pot, dripping down his chin, gulping like a starved animal. Their lunchgone.
Holly snapped, Sit properly! She dished him a bowl and passed the bread basket. With visible effort, Alfie composed himself.
She waited in silence until hed eaten. Exhaustion weighed on him, but she shook him awake. Tell me what happened.
He choked out, They threw me out like rubbish, Holly. Not a penny to my name. My own mum shut the door in my face. I had nowhere to goId have died out there. Youre my last hope.
But *why*? she pressed.
He slumped, ashamed. Cant say.
They tossed old jackets on the floor for him to sleeptheir one-bed flat had no space. As Alfie crashed, Holly called his mother from the balcony.
Your sons here, she said. Filthy and desperate. Whats going on?
The aunt wailed, Hes no son of mine! Drank, gambled everythingeven sold his wifes things while she was away. Robbed me too. If hes crawled to you, chuck him out!
Holly bristled. Easy for you to say! Hes *here*, and my husbands furious. What am I supposed to do?
Show no mercy! the aunt urged.
Holly nearly shouted, I *cant* just dump him on the street!
The aunt sobbedno help there.
Her husband stormed onto the balcony. I told youget rid of him. If you wont, *I* will. Give him a fiver and send him packing.
Holly refused. If something happens to him, Ill never forgive myself.
Fine, he snapped. Do what you wantIm leaving. And off he went to his mums.
Everything had collapsed in minutes. Who *was* Alfie? A thief? A danger? Theyd never seen him beforehowd he even found their address?
The night was uneasy. At dawn, Holly shook him awake. Your mum told me everything. You cant staymy husbands gone. Whats your plan?
She suggested shelterscharities that helped people like him. Alfie just stared, hollow-eyed, like a hunted animal.
Then, quietly: Im a criminal, Holly. But Im sorry. Id never hurt anyone.
A chill ran through her. What if he was sick? A thousand miles hitchhikinghow was he even alive? Gambling, stealing from familywas he too far gone?
She Googled shelters, but none had space for two days. Two days of torture with a strangerone whod robbed his own mother.
Her husband called, calling her a fool, demanding action. Holly rang work, explaining she needed time off.
They ate what little was left. No shoppingwhat if he stole everything? But slowly, Alfie improved. Ive changed, Holly, he kept saying. Id never go back. Thank you.
She found him a place. He leftnever called, never visited.
Five years later, he reappeared with a young woman. I wont barge in like last time, he said.
Introducing his new wife, he smiled. We came to thank you. If not for you, Id have diedwed never have met.
Hed landed a decent job in the suburbs. No contact with his mumHolly was his only family now.
He started calling on holidays. Once, he said, Ill always owe you, Holly.
Uncomfortable? Sure. But at least she learned something about her own husband.
