The greener grass wasn't green after all

Coming home under the scorching sun after work was not unusual; it was the continuous stress at work that made me hate the work I signed up for, saving lives, and here I was, needing saving. I walked into my hostel, which had about ten rooms; some were rooms and parlors, while others, like mine, were self-contained. Tired and exhausted, the only thing on my mind was to freshen up and sleep. The hostel was usually silent, every neighbor to themselves, and we loved it that way, with much privacy and little or no gossip. Nonetheless, we all related cordially, and one of my neighbors, Femi (whose actual name was withheld), came out of his room just when he heard me unlocking my door.

"Doc, how was work today? You look stressed. Sorry about that." Femi said it pitifully.

"Thank you, sir; I had quite a tiring day. Trust you're faring well?" I asked in return while about to enter my room.

"Fine Doc. I know you're busy, but I should inform you about my travels this coming Friday." Femi said it excitedly.

"Wow! That's lovely. Congratulations. Where are you traveling to?" I asked, genuinely happy for him, knowing fully well that he must have gotten tired of the rot in Nigeria and tried an alternative country for a greener pasture. I knew he had studied a paramedical course at the undergraduate level, but he worked for a bank here in Nigeria.

"Germany. I have gotten a job sorted out there. The grass is greener out there. I'm tired of Nigeria and the everyday problems here." Femi further stated:.

"You're right. Anything other than this country should be better. I don't know much about Germany, but I trust you to have done your diligent research." I concluded.

"Yeah, I have a friend there who facilitated the work for me. I have everything sorted out." Femi said confidently.

"Alright then, it's still Tuesday; we should still see before you leave." I said this right before entering my room.

At that instance, as much as I was happy for Femi, I felt more depressed, seeing a non-professional finding it easy to relocate to a greener pasture, even though I blamed myself for not having put much effort into it, probably because I believed in Nigeria and had some family assignments holding me back.

Femi and I talked briefly within the few hours before his departure. There was little I could contribute since I knew nothing about traveling to foreign countries, especially Germany.

Femi left for Germany, and for a few days, he was unreachable. I guessed he was settling down, but eventually he reached out to me.

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"Doc, this is not as I thought it to be. Life here is a different ball game. There's much restriction and racism here. Boredom has frustrated me. My fellow blacks that I meet along the way are not receptive, probably careful not to have their stay compromised." Femi said this during our WhatsApp phone conversation. Femi further informed me of how a tax of 40% drains his income because he is unmarried, stating that the married individual pays 25% as tax.

Femi's call to me via WhatsApp was more frequent, and from the tone of his conversation, I knew he was tired of Germany. However, about seven months later, Femi touched down in Nigeria. I was happy to see him. He told me he planned on visiting a few family and friends.

"I am getting depressed gradually, Doc. I hardly have people I can talk with here. Everyone remains indoors except when I catch the bus to work. And the foreigners hardly even respond to me when I greet them." Femi said.

"Is it that bad?" I asked, surprised.

"Doc, anyone going to Germany should go as a married man. The tax and weigh of love there can be demoralizing.

Since 2021, Femi has been in Nigeria, no longer desperate about traveling back and trying to get the pieces of his life together once again.