How Greed Blinded Him and Ruined Everything
We Were Inseparable
Since childhood, I was very close to my cousin, Paul. We grew up together like brothers, sharing joys and troubles, getting into scrapes, learning, and dreaming. When his parents divorced and his mother left with another man, Paul stayed with his father. His dad drank, took his frustrations out on Paul, and could be cruel and demeaning. Even though I was younger, I always stood up for him. Eventually, we both escaped that nightmare—fixing up the old attic in his grandmother’s house and moving in there. It was our sanctuary. We thought everything would get better from then on. But I had no idea that greed could ruin a person.
He Was Jealous Even of Me
When I enrolled in university, Paul was already working. But seeing me build my life, he decided to move to the city too, to stay close. We lived together again, sharing everything. I took a part-time job as a security guard to pay for my studies, and he was resentful—frustrated that he couldn’t get a decent job because he lacked a degree. I encouraged him to study, even part-time, but he refused. Instead, envy began to grow inside him. He noticed how much money I had, the clothes I bought, the places I went. Envy began to boil within him.
Greed Dragged Him Down
Paul wanted to have just as much as I did—but not through study and work. He got involved with a local gang—they dealt in shady business but made good money. I knew he understood what he was getting into. But the desire to outdo me and have more blinded him. When I bought a car, my first big purchase with hard-earned money, I invited him along just to check it out. But he couldn’t hide his rage. I saw the hatred in his eyes. It was unbearable for him to realize I was moving forward while he remained stuck. That same day, he took out a loan and bought a wreck that didn’t last a month. He turned into someone obsessed with greed.
The End Was Inevitable
He stopped thinking about friends, family, or even himself. He wanted more, more, and more. He sold out friendships, betrayed those who supported him, and argued with his family. He no longer saw people as people but as rivals. He destroyed himself. Now, he is utterly alone. Alone, like a broken-down car left on the roadside. Like a racer who never reached the finish. Greed wipes out everything. But in the end, there are no winners in this race.
