How could you leave my son hungry?
Whats for lunch today?
Emily startled and turned sharply. In the doorway stood a familiar figureAlex, her husbands twelve-year-old nephew. The boy stared at her, demanding and pleading all at once. Over the past month, shed grown accustomed to that look, to the same question every afternoon.
She set aside the jumper shed been foldingMatthews, of course.
«Come on, lets see whats there,» Emily said, masking her rising irritation.
Alex trotted obediently after her into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and sighed. Her sister-in-law, as usual, had left nothing for her son. Emily pulled out a container of soup shed made the night before for herself and Matthew, warmed it in the microwave, and set a bowl in front of the boy. Beside it, she placed mashed potatoes and a leftover meat patty from yesterdays dinner.
«Thanks, Aunt Em,» Alex mumbled, not lifting his eyes.
As the boy ate, Emily returned to the bedroom, resuming her folding with a mind elsewhere. How had it come to this? Two months ago, life had been entirely different
She remembered the evening that changed everything. Matthew had come home gloomy, sat beside her on the sofa, and taken her hands.
«Em, I need to ask you something,» he began carefully. «Lucy and Greg and Alextheyve been kicked out of their flat. The landlord didnt even return the deposit. Theyre in a rough spot. And weve got that big three-bedder»
«You mean *I* have a big three-bedder,» Emily cut in sharply. «Matt, Im not used to living with strangers. Yes, the flats spacious, but that doesnt mean theres room for them.»
«I know, love. But theyre family. Lucys my sister, Alex is my nephew. Just a couple of months, while they find something else. Give them time to save a bit. Then theyll move out.»
His voice was soft, persuasive. He spoke of his sisters struggles, how the boy needed stability before school started.
«Matt, I work from home. I need quiet, focus»
«Em, come on. Lucys quiet, tidy. Alex is a good lad, not noisy. Gregs barely ever home anyway. And its temporary.»
In the end, shed relented. The plea in his eyeshow could she refuse?
Now, folding yet another pile of shirts, Emily knew shed only herself to blame for not standing her ground. The first week had been fine. Lucy helped with meals, cleaning. Greg kept to himself. Alex did his homework without fuss.
Then Lucys holiday ended, and she went back to work. And everything changed.
Since then, Lucy cooked just once a dayfor dinner. Enough for one meal for her family. She didnt spare a thought for her son going hungry during the day. So the boy came home from school and went straight to Emily with *that* question.
*»Whats for lunch today?»*
It sent rage prickling under her skin. She wanted to scream, to make a scene, to explain how wrong this was. But the boy wasnt at fault.
That evening, she tried again with Matthew. She waited until he settled in bed with his book, then sat beside him.
«Matt, we need to talk,» she said firmly. «This isnt right. Lucy only cooks dinner. Alex comes home starving, and I have to feed him.»
Matthew set his book aside, studying her.
«Whats the issue, Em? Youre home. Its not hard to feed the lad.»
«Matt, yes, I work from home. No, its not *hard* to cook. But I dont earn enough to feed someone elses child every day. And more importantlyhes *not* my son. His parents should care for him. This is about principle!»
He frowned, baffled.
«Em, were family. Lucy and Greg are swamped. Youre at home. Whats the harm in helping?»
«You dont get it. This isnt *helping*. Its outright cheek, disrespect. Lucys dumped her son on me!»
«Dont overreact. Youre making it dramatic.»
She realised thenhe didnt see a problem. To him, it was natural for his wife to take on his familys burdens.
Emily didnt know how to fix it. Throwing them out wasnt an optionthey had nowhere to go. But tolerating it grew harder each day.
Then, a small miracle at the café. Anna, her friend since uni, leaned in.
«Em, why not come to my cottage for a fortnight? Peace, quiet, solid Wi-Fi. A break from all this city nonsense. Matthew wont mind.»
Emily lit up. Two weeks without *whats for lunch today*, without worrying over someone elses child, without tension in her own home.
«Annie, thats perfect! I could use the change. Of course he wont mind.»
Next morning, she packed a bag. Matthew, buttoning his shirt, noticed.
«Off somewhere, Em?»
«Annies cottage. Two weeks. Work in peace, unwind. A long girls trip. Shes just had her heart brokenneeds company. You dont mind, do you?»
He kissed her goodbye, and they partedhe to work, she to her friend.
At lunch, as Emily and Anna soaked in the cottages quiet, her phone rang. *Lucy*.
«Emily!» her sister-in-law shrieked. «How could you leave my son hungry? Hes home from school, and theres no one here! Whats he supposed to eat?»
Calmly, Emily replied, «Lucy, Im busy. What your child eatsnot my problem. Youre his mother.»
«How can you say that! We had an arrangement!»
«We had *no* arrangement. You just decided Id feed Alex.»
Lucy eruptedaccusations of coldness, betrayal, selfishness. Emily hung up. For the first time in two months, she breathed freely.
The fortnight flew. Emily returned refreshed, full of plans with Anna.
But home held a storm. Lucy sat stone-faced in the living room. Matthew looked torn between guilt and confusion.
«Finally back!» Lucy snapped. «Do you have any idea how weve lived these two weeks? My sons been eating frozen rubbish! Youve betrayed this family, put yourself first! You didnt even think of Alex!»
Emily set down her bag, shrugged off her coat.
«Who is this child to me?» she asked quietly. «Honestly, hes Matthews nephew, not mine. Im not obliged to feed him. Lucy, I dont expect you to care for my relatives.»
«How can you? Were *family*!»
«Lucy, I dont mind heating up food for Alex. But I wont cook for him anymore. Ill manage my own meals. I wont touch the stove until Im shown respect.»
The air thickened with tension.
Now, Emily bought food only for herself and Matthew. He ate at work or cafés. Alex watched her with sad eyes, but she held firm. There was nothing for him.
By the third day, Lucy learned. She rose early, cooked dishes for the day. Furious, resentfulbut the food was there.
Before leaving for work, Lucy gritted out, «At lunch, heat up the stew and potatoes for Alex.»
Emily nodded. «Was that so hard?»
Lucy flinched but nodded back. A fragile peace settled.
Soon, theyd save enough to leave. And Emily would make sure Matthew knewshe wouldnt be treated this way again. She was a person too.
