Cousin Amy 01

Chapter 1: Life’s Not Fair

In the quaint commuter town of Epsford, Surrey, nestled just a half-hour train ride from the bustling heart of London, Scott Kennedy stood at the threshold of his cousin Amy's apartment. It was a far cry from his own modest living situation. The door swung open, revealing the lavish interior that starkly contrasted with his life's recent upheavals.

Scott's girlfriend, Jessica, trailed behind him, her impatience palpable in her tone. "Is this going to take long?" she asked, her voice echoing slightly in the spacious hallway. "We're meeting Diane and Paul in three hours."

Scott, ever the optimist despite his circumstances, couldn't help but smile at her. He bent down to pick up a letter that had been delivered since his last visit, placing it on a cabinet before striding away. "We'll be quick. In and out," he assured her, his eyes meeting hers with an affectionate and reassuring gaze. "Don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to get home and do your makeup for tonight."

(See image 01)

Jessica, high maintenance and a bit self-centred, was the brightest spot in Scott's life. Her presence, albeit demanding, brought a sense of normalcy and comfort that he desperately needed.

The apartment around them spoke volumes of the life his cousin Amy led - a life of affluence and ease, a stark contrast to Scott's own experiences. Growing up, Scott and Amy had been as close as siblings. Born weeks apart, they shared a close bond in their early years. But their paths began to diverge with adolescence; Amy, blessed with the privileges of wealth, became increasingly focused on her appearance and social standing, while Scott, the diligent student, harboured dreams of university and a career in engineering.

Their familial backgrounds were indeed like two sides of the same coin. Amy's father hailed from affluence, providing a life of luxury and opportunities, whereas Scott's father was the epitome of the hardworking 'average Joe.' This contrast in upbringing, however, never marred Scott's childhood, which was filled with happiness and love, a testament to the nurturing environment his parents created. But the untimely death of his mother when he was fifteen shattered this idyllic world. This tragedy marked a profound turning point, casting a long, dark shadow over his once bright and promising future.

In the wake of this loss, Scott's life became increasingly tumultuous. His father, consumed by grief and unable to cope with the enormity of his loss, grew distant and unapproachable. The family business, into which Scott had been ushered immediately after school at his father's insistence, began a rapid descent into failure. Mismanagement and bad decisions led to its inevitable liquidation and his father declaring bankruptcy. Overwhelmed by the mounting pressures and unwilling to face the consequences of his actions, Scott's father chose the easy way out, fleeing to Thailand to start a new life, abandoning his son to fend for himself.

This abandonment compounded the isolation he already felt from his mother's side of the family. After her passing, connections with her relatives began to wither. Apart from Amy, who seemed to always call on him for a favour but remained emotionally distant, Scott lost all contact with his maternal relatives. This severance from his mother's family added another layer of solitude to his already challenging life, leaving him to navigate the complexities of young adulthood virtually alone.

Now twenty-two, Scott's life was a patchwork of challenges and setbacks. After enduring a period of couch-surfing and menial jobs, he had finally found some stability. His small apartment was modest, but it was his. And in Jessica, he found not just a partner but a beacon of hope amidst the chaos of his life.

Scott moved methodically around Amy's apartment, carefully tending to the plants. His actions were a small act of kindness in a world that often felt unkind. The irony of his situation was not lost on him, watering plants in an apartment that epitomized a life he could only dream of. 'Life's not fair,' his inner voice echoed a mantra that had become all too real.

"I don’t know why you don’t just let them die?" Jessica's voice cut through his thoughts as she flopped down on the luxurious sofa. Her gaze followed Scott with a mix of impatience and curiosity. “You always say your cousin is a selfish bitch. You know she won’t thank you when she gets back.”

Scott chuckled softly, continuing his task. “Yeah, most likely,” he admitted. “But she’s the only family I still speak to, and perhaps one day she’ll do me a favour in return.”

Jessica, seemingly unimpressed, made a swift, crisp motion, the sound of tearing paper filling the room as she tore into the envelope Scott had placed earlier on the cabinet. "I doubt it," she mumbled, her eyes rapidly scanning its contents.

Scott, noticing her actions, stopped and turned towards her, a look of surprise on his face. “Did you just open Amy’s mail?” he asked his tone a mix of disbelief and mild annoyance. "You can't just go around opening other people's mail!"

Jessica dismissed his concern with a wave of her hand and an innocent smile. "I thought it might be important," she explained gently. "Now, be quiet for a moment and come over here. You're not going to believe this."

As Scott approached, Jessica revealed the startling news: Amy’s grandmother had passed away, and Amy had been named as a beneficiary in her will. “I bet that’s a pretty penny?” Jessica said, her voice laced with a hint of envy.

Scott nodded. “Yeah, her family is loaded,” he replied. “Millions most likely!”

“Millions!” Jessica repeated, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Your family are millionaires?”

Scott corrected her gently. “Her family. Remember, I’m the one sharing a studio apartment with cockroaches.”

Jessica's face twisted into a grimace. "Ewww! Don't remind me," she protested, a hint of distaste in her voice. She let out a sigh, the injustice of their situation weighing on her. "It's just so unfair," she lamented. "I bet she doesn't even need that money. Have you seen some of the designer brands in her closet?"

"Life's not fair," Scott murmured, the words reflecting his all-too-familiar mantra, underscoring the vast divide between their worlds. "But hey, let's just forget about it, alright? It's not our money, and there's no way we can claim it for her."

Jessica, however, had a glint in her heavily made-up eyes, the wheels in her mind visibly turning. "What if we could?" she posed, her question hanging in the air, charged with possibility.

Scott, caught off guard by her suggestion, chuckled, assuming she was joking. “What, are you going to pretend to be Amy or something?” he said, his tone light-hearted yet tinged with disbelief.

But Jessica's response was earnest and forceful. “Why not?” she shot back. “I doubt this attorney has ever met her. You always say life’s not fair. Why not do something about it for once? The bitch is rich and will always be rich. But you live with cockroaches! This could be the chance to live a better life. One you would have had if not for your deadbeat dad.”

Scott's laughter faded, replaced by a look of wonder. “You’re serious?” he asked, the reality of her proposition dawning on him. The thought seemed so outrageous, and the risks were enormous. “Even if we could. We’d get caught. We’d go to jail!”

Jessica's confidence, however, didn't waver. Her hand found Scott’s leg, her touch reassuring as she spoke with conviction. “Let’s just look into the possibility. We’ll be careful. I promise. And let's imagine it worked. we’d be set for life. We could disappear and live the life we’ve always dreamed about. Just you and me, Baby.”

As Scott absorbed the gravity of Jessica's daring proposition, he found himself momentarily distracted as her hand reached further up his thigh. The audacity of her plan was overwhelming, yet there was an undeniable allure in the fantasy she painted - a life with Jessica free from the constant struggle and hardship that had become his norm.

As he gazed into Jessica's beautiful eyes, Scott's will to argue any further evaporated. Here was a woman who seemed so far out of his league, yet she had chosen to be with him, to weave dreams of a better future together. In that moment, the implausibility of her plan seemed less important than the simple act of agreeing with the woman he loved.

"Sure thing, Babe. A new life. That sounds nice,” Scott found himself saying, his voice soft, more a whisper of agreement to the dream rather than a concrete endorsement of a plan. It was easier to get swept up in the moment, in the warmth of her presence, than to dwell on the practicalities and risks of their wild scheme.

Leaning towards Jessica, Scott bridged the gap between them with a kiss that was charged with emotion. It was a kiss that spoke of longing, of a desire for connection and escape from the relentless grind of his daily life. As their lips met, everything seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the immediacy of their affection.

(See image 02)

Wrapped in each other's arms on Amy's sofa, the world outside with its trials and tribulations momentarily receded. In each other's embrace, they found a sanctuary, a fleeting haven of peace and connection. It was a moment that transcended their circumstances, a brief interlude of intimacy and solace in a world that had so often seemed cold and unforgiving.