Parents.. with different treatment

Skipping meals

The Missing Place at the Table

Dinner was ready, and the smell of pasta filled the house. Valerie set the table, placing plates and forks where they belonged—one for her, one for Colby, one for Xavier, and one for Xander. As usual, Victoria was in her crib nearby, quietly napping while the rest of the family ate.

"Dinner's ready!" Valerie called out, her voice echoing through the house.

Xavier bounded in, his four-year-old energy uncontainable. He climbed into his chair, excited for the meal. Colby followed behind, a tired but warm smile on his face. Everyone was here—except Xander.

"Where's Xander?" Colby asked, looking around.

Valerie paused. "I don't know... maybe he's in his room? I'll go check."

She walked down the hall, knocking gently on Xander's door. "Xander, dinner's ready, sweetie. Come eat."

But Xander didn't answer. Inside, he was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His stomach growled, but he didn't move. He heard his mom's voice, but the usual excitement for dinner wasn't there. Instead, he just felt... tired. Tired of being the one no one saw. Tired of sitting at the table where everyone talked, but no one talked to him.

He heard Valerie knock again, but he didn't want to go. He wasn't sure why, but sitting at the table with everyone felt hard now. They were always so busy with Xavier and the baby, always talking to each other, and he felt like he was just... there. Not important. Not noticed. Why go to dinner when no one would even care if he didn't?

Valerie opened the door slowly and peeked in. "Xander? Are you coming?"

Xander rolled onto his side, hugging his pillow. "I'm not hungry," he mumbled.

Valerie frowned, stepping into the room. "You haven't eaten much today, sweetie. Are you sure?"

"Yeah," he whispered, not meeting her eyes.

Valerie's heart sank a little, but she didn't want to push him. "Okay, honey. If you get hungry later, you can come have something. The food will still be there." She kissed his head gently and left the room, hoping Xander would come out on his own later.

Back at the dinner table, Valerie sat down, her mind still on Xander. Colby glanced at her, noticing her quiet expression. "Is he okay?"

Valerie shrugged, her worry etched on her face. "He says he's not hungry... but I don't know. He hasn't been eating much lately."

Colby sighed, looking over toward Xander's empty chair. "Maybe he's just going through a phase."

But it didn't feel like just a phase to Xander. It felt like the only thing he could control. He wasn't the one who got praised like Xavier for finishing puzzles, or cooed over like Victoria. He was just... there. But if he didn't show up for dinner, maybe someone would notice. Maybe if he didn't eat, someone would finally see him.

Hours passed, and the house grew quiet. The dinner table had been cleared, and the lights were dim. Xander's stomach grumbled again, but he stayed in bed, ignoring the hunger. He squeezed his pillow tightly, as if holding it could make the lonely feeling go away...