They are not

I’m not close to my family.
I don’t even think of them as my family or family anymore.
They’re just people.
So, every now and then, I get word somehow that something happens.
A wedding. A baby. A hospital stay. A funeral.
And then they ask “How are you?” out of habit.
I just say “Fine.”
Nothing about the job or cats or my health or my writing.
Sometimes, I’ll get a Kickstarter invite to fundraise funeral expenses or something.
‘Why should I pay for a show I won’t get to see?” I write back.
And close the browser tab.