I Earn Six Figures But Can't Afford a $2 Snack

I held my breath and lifted the lid.

But there were no car keys inside, the way I'd pictured.

Just a small acrylic keychain stamped with the same brand logo, lying there quietly.

"You said before you liked this brand. No car, sure, but a keychain's nice too. You can carry it around every day."

Naomi reached out, meaning to hold me the way she always did.

It had always gone like this.

One small gesture from Naomi and I'd soften, let it all go.

But this time, suddenly, I didn't want to.

I was tired. I didn't want to keep talking myself down off the ledge.

I stared at that tiny keychain and, out of nowhere, I laughed.

"Funny. I didn't even know this brand sold keychains separately."

Naomi's face went cold.

"I know today upset you. But do you really have to be this petty?"

"I've told you so many times. I've always thought of Sebastian as my own little brother. He's not well. It's only right that we give a little more to him. Can't you be more mature about this?"

"What did I even say? I just asked a question. Is that not allowed?"

I looked at her, steady, not blinking.

She stalled, started to say something.

Then her phone rang.

It was Sebastian.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Can't sleep? Put on some soft music, it helps. It's okay, I'll stay on with you the whole time…"

Naomi lowered her voice on purpose and turned, walking out to the balcony.

I went back to the bedroom and called the bank's customer line, and reported my paycheck card lost on an emergency hold.

When Naomi came back, she found me lying with my back to her.

She lifted the corner of the blanket and slid in beside me.

She inched closer, slowly, reaching to wrap an arm around me from behind.

Without a word, I shifted toward the edge of the bed.

She stared at my back for a long while, then gave a soft sigh and rolled over the other way.

I didn't sleep all night.

When I woke the next morning, Naomi was already out of the room.

Two takeout boxes sat on the table.

One seafood wonton soup, one bowl of plain rice porridge.

Not thinking much of it, I picked up a spoon and reached for the seafood wonton soup, the one closest to me.

The spoon was almost in the bowl when a hand slapped it away, hard.

"That one's yours."

Naomi pointed at the rice porridge off to the side.

"I got it specially for you. Even had them add extra scallions."

She pulled the other box out of my reach, capped it carefully, and tucked it into an insulated bag.

Only then did it sink in. The seafood wonton soup was for Sebastian.

"I don't eat the porridge."

Naomi frowned, openly annoyed.

"Sebastian's sick. You're going to fight him over a single breakfast?"

"Raymond, why are you so greedy? Did you never see food in a past life?"

I said nothing more.

I set the spoon down and turned back to the bedroom to change.

Maybe because she could see I was low, Naomi actually offered, for once, to drive me to work.

I'd asked her for rides before too.

Every time, Naomi had turned me down, said it was a hassle since she had to ferry Sebastian around.

I opened the passenger door, and froze halfway into the seat.

Throw pillow, thin blanket, sunglasses, water bottle, snacks…

The little passenger seat was buried under things that belonged to Sebastian.

I shut the door.

"Never mind. It's too cramped. I'll just grab an Uber."

My car had only gone in for servicing the day before.

Naomi blinked, caught off guard.

"What's gotten into you? Aren't you usually begging me shamelessly for a ride?"