Writers 
*THE PEOPLE WHO LEFT WHEN I NEEDED THEM THE MOST*
They say you know your real friends when you are in trouble. I used to think it was just a saying people use to sound wise, until last year taught me the real meaning. 2024 was the year life broke me completely, but the most painful part was not even the problem I was facing, it was realizing that the people I called my own were no longer there when I needed them the most.
*When Everything Was Going Well*
Before my downfall, I was the guy everybody liked to be around. I had a small business that was doing well, I had money to spend, I could help friends when they needed help. My phone never stopped ringing. My friends would come to my house almost every evening, we would gist, laugh, and make plans for the future. I had like five close friends then, we called ourselves brothers. If you had told me that one day I would call them and none of them would pick up, I would have argued with you.
*The Moment Life Turned Upside Down*
My problem started when my business collapsed. I lost a huge amount of money to a supplier who scammed me, and at the same time my mother fell seriously sick and was admitted to the hospital. Within two weeks, everything I worked for in two years was gone. I had to spend all my savings on hospital bills. I became broke, depressed, and confused. I could not even afford to feed myself properly some days. That was when I started reaching out to the people I trusted.
*The Silence That Hurt More Than The Problem*
I called my best friend first. The one who used to say "guy, if anything sup, just call me." He picked on the first day and said he would call me back. He never did. I called again for three days, he stopped picking. Another friend told me straight that he also has his own problems and he cannot help me. One even blocked me on WhatsApp after I told him I needed just 20k to complete my mum's drugs. The group chat we used to chat every day suddenly became silent whenever I sent a message. I would see them online, posting on their status, enjoying life, but they would ignore my messages.
The pain of being broke was one thing, but the pain of being abandoned was what really broke me. I would sit alone in my room at night, looking at my phone, hoping someone would at least ask "how is your mum?" No one did. I realized that many people were only around because of what I could offer, not because of who I was.
*The One Person Who Stayed*
In that dark period, only one person stayed. It was not even among my close circle. It was a junior colleague from my former workplace. He did not have much, but he would come to my house, sit with me, and sometimes bring food. He gave me 5 thousand naira from his small salary and said "manage this one first." That 5 thousand naira meant more to me than the hundreds of thousands I had given to my so-called brothers in the past. He taught me that loyalty is not about how long you have known someone, but about who stands by you when you have nothing to offer.
*What I Learned From Their Absence*
Losing those friends was painful, but it was also a blessing. Their absence taught me three important lessons. First, never judge your friendship in your season of abundance. Second, learn to stand alone because at the end of the day, you are your own saviour. And third, never become like them. I promised myself that no matter how big I become tomorrow, I will never abandon someone who genuinely needs me.
Today, my mum is getting better and I am slowly rebuilding my life. Those friends have started coming back now that they see I am trying to stand again, but I have already closed that chapter. I greet them when I see them, but I no longer keep them close to my heart.
*Conclusion*
The people who left when I needed them the most broke my heart, but they also built my eyes. They opened my eyes to see life differently. If you are reading this and you are in that lonely season where everyone has left you, please hold on. That loneliness is teaching you something that enjoyment can never teach you. You will come out stronger, wiser, and with better people by your side.
