07/04/2025
He Gave Them Everything, They Left Him To Die... The Truth Will Shock You!
Episode 1
..He let out a cough at the office, and blood spilled onto the palm he used to cover his mouth. His heart skipped a beat as he stared at the red stain. A wave of fear swept over him. "What is happening to me?" he muttered under his breath. Gbenga quickly grabbed a tissue from his desk, wiping his hand as discreetly as he could. His colleagues didn’t notice, but his chest felt heavy, both physically and emotionally. That evening, after work, he decided to visit the hospital, but little did he know his life was about to take a turn for the worse.
At the hospital, the doctor ordered several tests. Gbenga sat nervously in the waiting area, his mind racing. He was the breadwinner of his family, a dedicated father to three children, and a loving husband, at least, so he thought. He couldn't afford to be sick. Hours later, the doctor returned, his expression grim.
"Mr. Gbenga," he began, his tone laced with sympathy, "your results show you have tuberculosis. It’s treatable, but you must begin treatment immediately and take precautions to avoid spreading it to your family."
Gbenga’s hands trembled as he held the prescription paper. Tuberculosis? How could this happen to him? He left the hospital feeling like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. His thoughts were clouded with worry. How would his wife react? What about his children? He knew his community in Lagos wasn’t forgiving when it came to illnesses like this.
When Gbenga arrived home, his wife, Sade, was in the kitchen, and their children, Deji, T**i, and Kunle, were glued to their phones in the living room. The smell of egusi soup wafted through the air, but Gbenga didn’t have the appetite to eat. He called his wife, Sade into the bedroom to break the news.
"Sade, I went to the hospital today," he started, his voice low and hesitant.
"Hospital? Why? What’s wrong with you?" Sade asked, already sounding impatient.
"The doctor said I have tuberculosis," he revealed, avoiding her gaze.
Sade’s face twisted in shock. "Tuberculosis? Ha! Gbenga, how did you get that? Do you want to infect me and the children?" she snapped, stepping back as though he’d suddenly become a danger.
"Sade, please, calm down. The doctor said it’s treatable. I just need to take my medication and..."
"Treatable or not, don’t come close to me! I don’t want to catch anything from you. We have children to think about," Sade interrupted, her voice rising. She stormed out of the room, leaving Gbenga standing there, stunned.
That night, Sade called their three children together to inform them about their father’s condition. Instead of compassion, their reactions were filled with disgust and fear. Deji, the eldest, was the first to speak. "So, what happens now? He’ll just be coughing all over the house?"
"Exactly," T**i cut in, her nose wrinkled. "We need to be careful. I don’t want to get sick."
"We’ll have to set boundaries," Kunle added, nodding in agreement.
From that day, Gbenga’s life at home became unbearable. His family assigned him a single plate and cup, which they insisted he wash separately. They moved him into the smallest room in the house, a dim, stuffy space that felt more like a storage room than a bedroom.
Meals became unpredictable. Sometimes they brought him food, but other times they claimed they forgot. When they did remember, it was often cold leftovers or scraps. Gbenga, who had once been the head of the household, now felt like an outcast in his own home.
One evening, Gbenga overheard Sade talking to her friend on the phone. "I don’t know how long I can keep this up, oh! Gbenga has become a burden. Imagine a man with tuberculosis! How am I supposed to cope with him and still look after my children?"
Tears welled up in Gbenga’s eyes. He felt like a failure. He had worked tirelessly to provide for his family, sacrificing his own happiness for years to ensure they had a comfortable life. Yet now, in his time of need, they had turned their backs on him.
His situation at work didn’t help matters. Gbenga’s boss, Mr. Okoro, noticed his declining performance and frequent absences due to hospital appointments. One morning, he called Gbenga into his office. "Gbenga, we’ve been patient with you, but it’s clear you’re not in good health. We can’t afford to have someone in your condition affecting productivity. I’m sorry, but we’ll have to let you go."
Gbenga’s world crumbled. Losing his job was the final blow. Without an income, he couldn’t contribute to the household, which only worsened his family’s resentment. Sade, who had always relied on him, began to complain bitterly about the financial strain.
"How do you expect us to survive now?" she yelled one evening after he informed her about losing his job. "You’re not only sick but also useless! What kind of man can’t even take care of his family?"
Gbenga said nothing. He simply sat in silence, his chest heavy with shame and sadness. He spent his days confined to the small room, staring at the walls and reflecting on how drastically his life had changed. The once-vibrant man who had dreams and ambitions was now a shadow of himself, broken and despised by the very people he loved the most.
Despite everything, Gbenga held on to hope. He continued taking his medication and prayed fervently for healing and for his family’s hearts to soften. But each passing day felt like an eternity. The isolation, the lack of affection, and the constant reminders of his worthlessness wore him down.
One night, as he lay on the thin mattress in his cramped room, he heard his youngest son, Kunle, laughing in the living room. The sound reminded him of happier times when the house was filled with love and laughter. Back then, he and Sade worked together as a team, and the children looked up to him with admiration. Those memories felt like a lifetime ago.
Tears streamed down Gbenga’s face as he whispered to himself, "Is this how it will end? Alone and unloved?"
