“How Could You Leave My Son Hungry?”
“Whats for lunch today?”
Emily flinched and turned sharply. In the doorway stood a familiar figureAlex, her husbands twelve-year-old nephew. The boy looked at her with a mix of expectation and pleading, a stare shed grown uncomfortably used to over the past month. The same question, day after day.
Emily set aside the jumper shed been foldingher husband Danielsand forced a calm tone. “Come on, lets see what weve got.” Alex trailed dutifully behind her into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, Emily sighed. Her sister-in-law, as usual, had left nothing for the boy. She pulled out a container of soup shed made the night before for herself and Daniel, microwaved it, and set a bowl in front of Alex, adding mashed potatoes and a leftover cutlet from dinner.
“Thanks, Aunt Em,” he mumbled, barely looking up as he ate.
Emily returned to the bedroom, resuming her folding, but her mind wandered. How had she ended up like this? Just two months ago, life had been entirely different
She remembered the evening everything changed. Daniel had come home with a grim expression, sat beside her on the sofa, and taken her hands. “Em, Ive got a favour to ask,” he began carefully. “Lisa and Iantheyve been kicked out of their flat. The landlord kept the deposit. Theyve nowhere to go, and things are tight. Weve got the space”
“Its *my* space,” Emily interrupted sharply. “Daniel, Im not used to sharing my home with others. Yes, its a big house, but that doesnt mean theres room for them.”
He persisted, voice softening. “But theyre family. Lisas my sister. Alex is my nephew. Just a couple of months, till they save up. Theyll move out.”
Emily relented, seeing the plea in his eyes. How could she refuse?
Now, folding another pile of shirts, she cursed her own weakness. The first week had been fineLisa helped with cooking and cleaning, Ian kept to himself, and Alex did his homework quietly. But when Lisas holiday ended and she returned to work, everything unravelled.
Lisa now cooked only once a daydinnerand only enough for her own family. She seemed unconcerned that her son came home from school to an empty kitchen. So Alex sought out Emily, asking *that* question, sparking a quiet rage in her. She wanted to scream, to force a reckoning, but the boy wasnt to blame.
That evening, she tried reasoning with Daniel. “This isnt normal,” she said firmly. “Lisa only cooks dinner. Alex comes to me hungry every afternoon.”
Daniel barely glanced up from his book. “Whats the issue? Youre homeits no trouble to feed him.”
“Its not about trouble. My salary doesnt stretch to feeding someone elses child. And more than thathes *not my son*. His parents should care for him. This is about principle!”
Daniel frowned, baffled. “Em, were family. Lisa and Ian are swamped. Youre here. Whats the harm in helping?”
“Its not helpits disrespect! Lisas dumped her responsibility on me!”
“Dont overreact,” he dismissed.
Emily realised hed never understand. To him, her sacrifices for *his* family were expected.
The next morning, salvation came unexpectedly. Her old university friend, Hannah, suggested a getaway. “Come to my cottage for a fortnight. Peace, quiet, good Wi-Fi. Escape the city chaos. Daniel wont mind.”
Emily lit up. Two weeks without *Whats for lunch?*, without someone elses child draining her patience.
Packing her bag the next morning, Daniel eyed her curiously. “Where are you off to?”
“Hannahs cottage. Two weeks. Shes just had a breakupneeds company. You dont mind, do you?”
He kissed her goodbye without protest.
At lunchtime, as Emily and Hannah relaxed on the cottage porch, her phone rangLisas name flashing.
“Emily!” Lisa shrieked. “How could you leave my son hungry? Hes home alone with nothing to eat!”
Calmly, Emily replied, “Lisa, Im busy. Feeding your child isnt my job. Youre his mother.”
“How can you say that? We had an arrangement!”
“We never agreed to anything. *You* decided Id feed him.”
Lisa explodedaccusations of selfishness, betrayalbut Emily ended the call. For the first time in months, she felt free.
The fortnight passed blissfully. Returning home refreshed, Emily found an ambush. Lisa sat stone-faced on the sofa; Daniel looked torn between guilt and confusion.
“Finally!” Lisa snapped. “Do you have any idea what these two weeks were like? My son lived on frozen meals! You betrayed this family!”
Emily set down her bag, unwound her scarf, and met their stares. “Who is this child to me? Honestly, hes Daniels nephewnot mine. Im not obliged to care for him.”
Lisa gasped. “Were *family*!”
“Lisa, I dont mind heating up food for Alex. But I wont cook for him again until Im treated with respect.”
The air thickened with tension.
From then on, Emily bought food only for herself and Daniel. Alex gave her those pleading looks, but she held firm. No meals for him.
On the third day, Lisa learned. She woke early, cooked a proper lunch, and left instructions through gritted teeth: “Heat up the stew and potatoes for Alex.”
Emily nodded. “Was that so hard?”
Lisa stiffened but nodded back. A fragile peace settled.
Soon, theyd save enough to leave. And Emily would make sure Daniel understoodshe wouldnt be taken for granted again. She mattered too.
*Sometimes, setting boundaries isnt selfishits the only way to teach others how to treat you.*
