“They Feast on Delicacies, While We Have Oatmeal. Where’s the Fairness?”

Nathan and Hazel had always been close siblings, but lately, things had started to change. Nathan, the older brother, had recently started a new job at a high-end restaurant downtown. Hazel, still in high school, noticed the shift in their relationship. Nathan’s new job meant he was often out late, and when he did come home, he seemed distant.

Just last night, Nathan came home around eight. Hazel, along with their parents, Timothy and Ellie, were sitting down to a simple dinner of oatmeal and toast. It was a modest meal, but it was what they could afford. Nathan walked in, his face flushed with excitement, carrying a bag that smelled of rich, savory foods.

“Hey, Nathan!” Hazel greeted him with a smile. “We’re just having dinner. Want to join us?”

Nathan glanced at the table, his eyes lingering on the plain oatmeal. “No thanks, Hazel. I already ate at work,” he replied, his tone polite but distant. He then turned and headed to his room, closing the door behind him.

Hazel felt a pang of disappointment. She missed the days when Nathan would sit with them, sharing stories and laughter over dinner. She turned back to her bowl of oatmeal, trying to push away the feeling of being left out.

Timothy, their father, noticed the exchange and sighed. “He’s been working hard, Hazel. It’s a different world he’s in now.”

Ellie, their mother, nodded in agreement. “He’s experiencing new things. We just have to be patient.”

But Hazel couldn’t shake the feeling of unfairness. While Nathan was out enjoying gourmet meals and new experiences, she was stuck with the same routine. She loved her family, but the disparity was hard to ignore.

The next morning, Hazel woke up early to find Nathan already gone. He had left a note on the kitchen table: “Working late again tonight. Don’t wait up.”

Hazel crumpled the note in frustration. She decided to confront Nathan when he got home. That night, she waited up, determined to talk to him. It was past midnight when she heard the front door creak open. Nathan tiptoed in, trying not to wake anyone.

“Nathan, we need to talk,” Hazel said, stepping out from the shadows.

Nathan looked startled but nodded. “Sure, Hazel. What’s up?”

“Why are you shutting us out?” Hazel asked, her voice trembling. “We used to be so close, and now it feels like you’re a stranger.”

Nathan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not that I’m shutting you out, Hazel. It’s just… this job is demanding, and it’s a different world. I don’t want to burden you with it.”

“But we’re family,” Hazel insisted. “We should share things, not hide them.”

Nathan looked at her, his expression softening. “I know, Hazel. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel left out.”

For a moment, it seemed like things might get better. But as the weeks went by, Nathan’s absences grew longer, and his interactions with the family became even more sparse. Hazel tried to bridge the gap, but it felt like she was reaching out to someone who was already too far away.

One evening, Hazel came home to find her parents sitting in the living room, their faces etched with worry. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her heart pounding.

“It’s Nathan,” Timothy said quietly. “He’s been in an accident.”

Hazel’s world shattered. They rushed to the hospital, but it was too late. Nathan had passed away before they arrived. The family was left to grapple with the loss, the unspoken words, and the unresolved feelings.

In the end, Hazel realized that life was unfair in more ways than one. Nathan had been chasing a dream, but it had cost him his life and their relationship. The simple dinners of oatmeal and toast now felt like a painful reminder of what they had lost.