How Could You Leave My Son Hungry?

“How Could You Leave My Son Hungry?”
“Whats for lunch today?”

Emily jumped and spun around. There in the doorway stood a familiar figureAlex, her husbands twelve-year-old nephew. The boy fixed her with that same pleading, expectant look shed grown accustomed to over the past month. The same question, day after day.

Emily set aside the jumper shed been foldingher husband Daniels, of courseand forced a smile. “Come on, lets see what weve got,” she said, masking her rising irritation.

Alex trotted obediently behind her into the kitchen. Emily opened the fridge and sighed. Her sister-in-law, as usual, had left nothing for her son. Resigned, Emily pulled out a container of yesterdays soupmade for herself and Danielpopped it in the microwave, and set it in front of Alex. She added a scoop of mashed potatoes and a leftover meatball from last nights dinner.

“Thanks, Aunt Em,” Alex mumbled, eyes fixed on his plate.

As the boy ate, Emily returned to the bedroom, resuming her folding with a mind racing elsewhere. How had she ended up like this? Two months ago, life had been entirely different…

…She remembered the evening everything changed. Daniel had come home unusually grim, sat beside her on the sofa, and taken her hands. “Em, love,” he began carefully, “Ive got a favour to ask. Lucy and Markand Alextheyve lost their flat. The landlord kicked them out, kept the deposit. Theyre in a tight spot. And our place is big enough…”

“Its *my* big enough place,” Emily cut in sharply. “Dan, Im not used to sharing my home with strangers. Yes, its a three-bed, but that doesnt mean theres room for them.”

“I know, darling. But theyre family. Lucys my sister, Alex is my nephew. Just a couple of months while they save up for something new. Thats all.”

Hed been so earnest, so persuasivetalking about how hard it was for Lucy, how Alex needed stability before school started. “Dan, I work from home. I need quiet, focus…”

“Em, come on. Lucys quiet, Marks barely there, and Alex is a good kid. Its temporary.”

In the end, shed relented. The hope in Daniels eyes had been impossible to refuse.

Now, folding yet another pile of laundry, Emily knew she only had herself to blame for not standing her ground. The first week *had* been peaceful. Lucy helped with cooking and cleaning, Mark kept to himself, and Alex did his homework without fuss.

Then Lucys holiday ended, and she went back to work.

Overnight, Lucy cooked only once a daydinnerand only enough for her own family. It never occurred to her that Alex might need lunch, too. So the boy came home from school and sought out Emily with *that* question:

“Whats for lunch today?”

The phrase now sent waves of frustration through her. She wanted to scream, to make a scene, to point out how absurd this was. But Alex wasnt to blame for his parents thoughtlessness.

That evening, Emily tried again with Daniel. She waited until he settled into bed with his book, then sat beside him. “Dan, we need to talk. This situation with Alex isnt right. Lucy only cooks dinner, and hes left hungry all day.”

Daniel set his book down, frowning. “Whats the issue? Youre homeits not hard to feed him.”

“Dan, yes, Im home. Yes, I *can* cook. But my salary doesnt stretch to feeding someone elses child daily. And more importantlyhes *not my son*. His parents should be providing for him. This is about principle!”

Daniel just looked baffled. “Em, were family. Lucy and Mark are swamped. Youre here. Whats the big deal?”

“The big deal,” Emily said through gritted teeth, “is that Lucys dumped her responsibilities on me. Its disrespectful.”

“Youre overreacting,” he sighed.

Emily realised thenhe didnt see the problem. To him, it was natural for her to pick up his familys slack.

She didnt know how to fix it. Throwing them out felt cruelthey genuinely had nowhere else to go. But tolerating it was becoming unbearable.

Then, at the café the next morning, a small miracle happened. Anna, her university friend, grinned over her latte. “Em, why dont you come to my cottage for a fortnight? Peace, quiet, decent Wi-Fi. Escape the city chaos. Daniel wont mind.”

Emily lit up. Two weeks without the daily “Whats for lunch?” No fretting over someone elses child. No tension in her own home.

“Anna, thats brilliant! I could use the break. Of course Dan wont mind.”

The next morning, as Daniel buttoned his shirt for work, he eyed her packed bag. “Off somewhere?”

“Annas cottage. Two weeks. Work remotely, recharge. Shes just had a nasty breakupneeds the company. Youre fine with it, right?”

Daniel kissed her goodbye. She left for Annas; he left for work.

By lunchtime, Emily and Anna were lounging on the cottage patio, soaking up the tranquillityuntil Lucys name flashed on Emilys phone.

“Emily!” Lucy shrieked. “How *could* you leave my son hungry? Hes home from school, and theres *no food*! Whats he supposed to eat?”

Calmly, Emily replied, “Lucy, Im busy. Your sons meals are *your* problem. Youre his mother.”

“How can you say that!” Lucy spluttered. “We had an *arrangement*! You *know* I cant cook during the day!”

“We never arranged anything. You just decided Id feed Alex.”

Lucy eruptedaccusing her of selfishness, betrayal, heartlessness. Emily ended the call. For the first time in months, she breathed freely.

The fortnight flew by. Emily returned home refreshed, brimming with plans she and Anna had hatched.

But her welcome was frosty. Lucy sat stiffly on the sofa, face like thunder. Daniel hovered, torn between guilt and confusion.

“Finally!” Lucy snapped. “Do you *know* what these two weeks have been like? My son lived on *ready meals*! Youve betrayed this family!”

Emily set down her bag, removed her coat, and met their gazes. “Who exactly is this child

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