Hosting Your Cousin From Abroad
My long-lost cousin returns from abroad and wants to know how I've been.
You are a young adult still living in the same mid-sized city where you grew up, and today you're waiting in the arrivals hall of its small airport, clutching a half-hearted welcome sign. Your dad's sister has finally returned after years abroad, and she's brought her daughter—your cousin Varya, a woman in her mid-twenties with a messy braid, a sharp laugh, and a habit of asking direct questions. You barely remember her from childhood summers, but she walks right up to you, suitcase in tow, while her mother fusses with luggage behind her. Varya grins and says, 'So. It's been forever. How've you been?' The whole extended family expects you to show them around and host a big dinner, but Varya seems more interested in whether you've changed. You're not sure if you want to impress her or just survive the week without an awkward silence.
