The first few days were peaceful.
I invited her to my home out of the goodness of my heart. When Ewa called me that evening, her voice sounded so weak that my heart sank. She had lost everything – house on fire, job, and her relationship had fallen apart shortly before all this. I couldn't refuse her help. After all, she was my cousin, the only family that still turned to me.
– „Ania, I don't know what to do. I can stay with you, even for a few days? I promise I won't bother you.”
– „Of course, Ewa. You can always count on me– I replied without even thinking.
I didn't know then what a big mistake I had made.
The first few days passed peacefully. Ewa was quiet, polite, grateful for the space I gave her. I cooked for both of us, and she tried to return the favor by cleaning the apartment or helping with shopping. I felt that she was doing everything she could to not be a burden.
But over time I started to notice changes. Ewa stopped helping, she started taking up more and more space – not only physical, but emotional as well. She would take up the couch in the living room, leave her things all over the house without asking me for my opinion. She brought chaos into my life, and when I tried to talk, she would react with irritation.
„Ewa, could you please not leave your things in the kitchen? I need some order.”
– „Ania, really? After everything I've been through, you're going to pick on such a small thing?”
The tension grew over time. Ewa began bringing her friends over to the house, organizing evenings that lasted until late. When I gently pointed it out to her, her reaction was full of anger.
– “You think I'm your servant because you took me in? Don't forget that I'm doing what I can to get back on my feet!”
I was surprised by these words. I had never treated her that way before. I just wanted us to be able to function in peace. But she seemed to see my help as something completely different.
The climax was a conversation we had a few weeks later. Ewa came to me late one night, her face full of anger.
– “Ania, we need to talk,” she began.
– “What's the matter, Ewa?”
– “I think you're taking advantage of my situation. You invited me here so you could have control over someone. You treat me like someone inferior, like you're doing me a great favor.”
Her words were like a blow to the heart. I was speechless. How could she think that? After all, I gave her my home, my safety, trying to help her.
– „Ewa, what are you saying? I gave you my house so you would have a place to live. I never wanted anything in return!”
But she wouldn't listen.
– „Don't lie to me, Ania. I feel like an intruder here. If I had known it would be like this, I would never have come here.”
I couldn't sleep for a long time that night. Her accusations resonated in my head. Did I do something wrong? Could my help really be perceived as an attempt at control? Deep down I knew it wasn't true, but her words left a dent in our relationship.
Two days later Ewa moved out. She didn't say where she was going or what she planned to do. She simply disappeared, just as she had appeared in my life – suddenly, leaving chaos behind.
Now I sit alone in my apartment, which is once again quiet and orderly. But my heart is in turmoil. I've lost not only my cousin, but also my faith that helping always brings good. Sometimes people see something in her that never was – expectations, control, obligations. And I just wanted to help. Now I know that not everyone is ready to accept this help.
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