1 ~ A Devastating News

CHAPTER 1

A young man, Benjamin walked out of the State Hospital, with a depression, worries, and fear overwritten on his face. He was looking sad as he walked out of the building. 

He came to a halt as he thought about what might have happened to him. 

He was tortured with a constant headache for the past two months, but he never thought it was something serious. 

All he thought it might be the stress from his hard job — might cause the frequent headache but unfortunate for him, the doctor had told him he was suffering from a Brain Tumor. 

Shivers ran down his spine as he got to know the reason behind the headache he felt everyday. He was downcast, and at the same time, helpless. 

In the midst of his thought, his phone vibrated from his pocket pulling him out of his reverie. He instantly reached out to it, and saw it was his boss on the line. 

Unfailing to exhale, he picked the call, and the loud yells from his boss were heard. 

“You Idiot, what is taking you so long to be at work? Why are you not at work, Benjamin ? Do I have to beg you before you get here!?” His boss, Mr Grayson questioned in fury, he was at the top of his voice. 

Benjamin  Jefferson  gave out an exasperated sigh, while he tried to explain his condition to his boss,  Grayson. 

“I’m sorry! I won't be able to come to work today, I'm having a slight headache, and I'm at the State Hospital at the moment.” Benjamin  explained, he knew his boss got furious at very slight issues. 

“What?" Mr Grayson yelled, “I didn't approve your leave application, Benjamin , You are absent without my permission, What gave you the right? You dare to see my wrath, right?” He gave out a sneer, then continued. “I am sorry to tell you this, Mr Jefferson , you are fired.” He sputtered out. 

Benjamin  went wide-eyed instantly, “What? I'm fired?”

He found his boss's words unbelievable. He took in a lot of breath not to shout at his boss. He was only absent for a day, why would he sack him just like that? 

“I had been absent only for a day, Mt Grayson! Please, you don't have to sack me. You can deduct my salary in exchange for my absence.” He pleaded.  

Mr Grayson berated, “What type of ‘You're fired!’ you don't understand, Benjamin ? It's just three words for effing sake! You are no longer welcome at my company. Have a nice day, Mr Jefferson !” With that, the call went limp. 

Listening to his boss's final verdict, his face was expressionless. It's nothing to be worried about when he just receives the most devastating news of his life. Nothing could be worse than the Brain Tumor Medical Certificate. 

Without giving it much thought, he went back home. When he opened the door, he saw his wife on the couch, her interest was on the TV, and she laughed at every funny scene. 

The room was totally in mess, she had littered the room with snacks, and pillows lying helplessly on the floor. 

There was no expression on his face, He was looking more like Zombie as he walked in. 

He looked lifeless, and definitely, depression was taking over him. Receiving two disheartening news is much to take in easily. 

He slumped to the couch heavily, and sighed exasperatedly. 

At the moment, his wife, Gabriella noticed him, and she was surprised to see him home at this time of the day. 

Her face was covered with frowns  as she demanded, “Why are you back home at this time of the day? You left the house two hours ago and now, you are back. Can you tell me the reason why you are back so early.” 

Benjamin  didn't have the intention to hide it from her, so he explained. “I lost my job! My boss got me fired!” He blurted out. 

Gabriella jumped from the couch, and yelled in rage. "What gibberish are you sputtering out of your mouth, Benjamin ? What do you mean you lost your job? Tell me you're joking, Benjamin !” 

Noticing his saddened demeanor, Gabriella blows up her top. “You are nothing but a useless man. How could you lose your job? What do you intend to feed me with? How do you intend to pay the bills? What about my allowance? Who is going to pay for all these?” 

Benjamin  was about to say something but his wife's riposte blocked his words behind his throat. 

“I was blinded with love, if not why would I have married someone as useless as you are. You are such a useless loser, Benjamin . I regret marrying you!” 

Benjamin  was pained, he could feel the rage in his wife, Gabriella's voice. 

He couldn't believe Gabriella could say these harsh words to him. He couldn't believe she was angry because he lost his job. She couldn't pacify him, and all she cared about was the food, the bills, and her necessities. 

She even regretted marrying him, and had the gut to call him useless. He was depressed as he stared at her. 

His expression had turned stoic, “Gaby, you couldn't even have an iota of pity but all you could do was to shout at me.” He sputtered out unbelievably at his wife. 

Gabriella scoffed while staring at Benjamin  in disdain. “Pity, you say? A lazy man like you doesn't deserve to be pitied. You are such a loser, you can't take care of me properly. 

I know what my friend's husband is doing for them. All of my mates are riding cars, eating proper meals, and wearing expensive clothes but what have you done for me? I don't have a car, I don't eat what I want, and my clothes are almost turned into rags, why is that, Benjamin ? Because you are poor, and the only job that fetches us a little money, you lost it! Aren't you a loser?” Her voice was tinged with scorn and fury as she spat out ingratiatingly. 

Benjamin  was pained, he never expected Gabriella to talk to him in such a manner. He glared at her with reddened eyes and stood up from the couch. 

He strode towards the door to leave but his wife's last words made his heart shriek in pain. 

“You useless husband, you should go and never come back. DIE! I don't care about what you do anymore. By the time you are dead, I surely will find a better husband.” She muttered ragingly, and closed the door upon his face in a loud bang.