The image is AI generated
Life has a way of presenting us with lessons we were never ready for, and sometimes it is people that you least expected that opens your eyes to those lessons. There are moments when you stand back, watch your what's happening around you and you begin to question whether people actually care about you as a person, or if their connection to you is because of what you can do or give to them.
Never in my existence did I doubt the people who were around me, for all they said and did seemed to confirm that they truly cared about me; this conviction made me feel safe at all times. Where I live in, we are quite a number of people living together in the same house, like one big family even though I have my immediate family. Right from the very beginning I ensured everyone was comfortable, and lack nothing in the house. I did this wholeheartedly and never expect anything from anyone because that's what I thought family should be.
I rented a large apartment so that everyone could have their spaces and, i ensure that there is always enough food for everyone to eat on a daily basis irrespective of any situation. I never at any point asked or demanded of anyone to contribute to the feeding, accommodation costs or anything required to run the house because i saw that as my responsibility and that it was the family thing to do.
I thought I had found people who loved me as there is always laughter, spending time together and all the things that makes a house joyful, but I was wrong.
It all started when my business failed terribly and suddenly found myself a difficult spot financially. For the first time in a long time that I could no longer provide as before and the real characters of those living with me suddenly change before me. Their usual normal behavior abruptly changed at a stage where it was no longer ignore; they suddenly stopped being friendly. They would all leave early in the morning for work, took care of themselves, ate and then returned home in the evening, while I stayed hungry and in pain. The worse part is that nobody seemed to bothered how I was doing.
It was not that they don't see me. They see me every morning before leaving the house and also when they returned home. I was like an invisible being in the house where I was the center of everything. The lack of sympathy and the silent treatment made me realized something that I had refused to see all along.
It was never about my heart at all it was only about my pocket.
And now I truly understand that as long as i was providing food and comfort they all appears to love me, but, the moment I could no longer provide anymore, the so called love ceased. The realization was painful, but it was a lesson of its own that makes me understand that not everyone who cheers you today does so because they care about you, but about what they can get from you.
Now I finally know that not all our friends truly get our side, and not all that feels like family would be there for you when things goes north. It has also taught me that love can only truly be attested to when things are hard.
This is my entry for the IndiaUnited community weekly contest.
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