Shattered Brotherhood!

What have been some of your life's greatest surprises?

My answer:

People!

Yes, people! I have experienced the greatest surprises of my life from people, so much so that absolutely no character can shock me anymore. Over the years, I have seen it all, how those who are closest to me make promises that they never intended keeping in the first place. I have been betrayed by the one I least expected to. I have cared for people who would not care a hoot when I went through the same stuffs as they did.

I get surprised to see how the people who I once shared a very close bond with, and for many years, become total strangers because they feel they have 'arrived' and consider me inferior and not being on the same level with them anymore.

They don't show you who they really are from the beginning, oh no, they just allow you to win their trust. You don't know the hurtful feeling of being played for a fool, not once, not twice, but again and again and again.

The concept sank so deep when I started seeing betrayals here and there, then I understood why my Mom once told me that 'The human is fickle and shallow'.

Ugo was my best friend in secondary school, I mean we were best friends, we shared everything, from my provisions, my money down to even my uniforms. Most holidays, he spent in my home for many years, his step-mom was a terror and didn't just like seeing him around, his mother had passed away when he was just five years old, and his father was a weakling, so we became more like blood brothers with us being each other's closest confidant.

Then after secondary school, fortune smiled on him as his late mother's brother in The US came for him. Amidst tears, we parted ways. He had to travel, my Mom and I assisted in all the preparations for his journey.
What surprised me most was that he never called once he left, while I was worried sick to death as to his wellbeing. Even when I got his social handle through one of our classmates years later, he never replied to any of my heartfelt messages. The last message I dropped for him was, "Man, I hope the US treats you right, I wish you all the best". There was no response still but from the photo on his profile, I knew he was very okay. I was deeply hurt but I eventually moved on.

Few months ago, he came home to dedicate his personal house, it was massive, with the rear wing carved out for his father and step-Mom. It was a fairytale!

I wanted answers so I went to see him, his greetings and everything was lukewarm, so I asked him one very nagging question.

"Ugo, how could you have easily forgotten our brotherhood?" I asked as I looked him straight in the eyes, wanting nothing but the truth.

"Man, Levels have changed and I have moved on. All that brotherhood 'shit' is in the past now", he replied and with that, he strolled past me and into his car, the latest SUV machine. He drove off! He just drove off without another backward glance.

Who says Men don't cry. I let the tears roll down freely, wondering what actually happened.

I couldn't shake off this worst feeling of one played by someone whom they trusted the most.

Across different strata of life, people continue to amaze me with their negative traits but I will always be a magnet that spreads positive vibes and I do so without any expectations because I understand human nature much more now, I wouldn't want to be fooled, ever again.

hereThis is in response to a question posed by @ericvancewalton. Check it out

Thank you @ericvancewalton for the opportunity to digitalize our thoughts and memories.