#7 The Story of a Dull Salaryman Who Was About to Be Sold a "Vase" and Grabbed Someone by the Collar

Introduction

Have you ever felt like you were at rock bottom in life? When you work desperately for your family but the days go by without any reward, what kind of choices do people end up making?

This time, I will share a painful yet instructive story that Yamada actually experienced. This is the story of how I, a dull salaryman, was swayed by a momentary temptation and was almost sold a "vase".

1. The Dilapidated Apartment and My Wife's Dissatisfaction

Yamada, a dull salaryman with no pay raise, lived with his wife and child in a dilapidated wooden apartment building with a rent of 60,000 yen. The walls were thin, drafts would blow in during the winter, and even with the heater on, the room wouldn't warm up easily. In the summer, it was as hot as a steam bath, and the air conditioner was old and ineffective. On rainy days, the roof would leak, and we often had to get by by placing buckets underneath. Sounds from the neighboring rooms came right through, and we could hear TV sounds and conversations late into the night, leaving us with almost no privacy.

The kitchen was cramped, and there was only one gas burner. Because the cooking space was also limited, my wife struggled with preparing meals every day. The bathroom was a unit bath, and it was incredibly cramped to bathe with our child. Storage space was also limited, and our child's toys and clothes were scattered all over the room. There was no place to hang laundry, so we always dried it indoors, which caused humidity to build up and sometimes led to mold.

Even in such an environment, Yamada thought, "I'm happy just being together as a family.". On days off, we would go to a nearby park to play with our child or enjoy a picnic with homemade bento boxes. Even if we couldn't afford expensive things or luxuries, I believed we could live while laughing together.

However, reality was not that sweet. My wife seemed to be accumulating stress day by day, and the number of times she sighed increased. Smiles disappeared from her face, and even when I spoke to her, she only gave vague replies. Although I noticed the change, I didn't know how to approach her, and time just passed by.

One day, while we were cleaning up after dinner, my wife muttered to herself.

Wife: "Lately, I haven't been able to meet my friends at all, and we haven't been able to go anywhere..."

Yamada: "That's true, shall we go out on a day off sometime?"

I suggested that, but my wife shook her head.

Wife: "But we don't have the money, and you're tired from work, right? You don't have to push yourself."

My heart ached at those words. I felt that even though my wife and child must want to spend more fun time together, it is I who am making them endure it.

Furthermore, every time she saw the fun-looking photos that her friends posted on social media, she seemed to get depressed. Luxurious dinners, stylish cafes, overseas trips... She would compare those to our own lives, and I could see her falling into self-loathing.

Wife: "So-and-so is going on an overseas trip again. I'm so jealous..."

Staring at her smartphone screen, my wife sighed.

Yamada: "I hope we can go someday too."

Although I said that, the words felt empty even to me. That was because I knew that in our current situation without financial leeway, it was a dream that could never come true.

One night, after our child had fallen asleep, my wife spoke to me with a serious expression.

Wife: "Hey, are we really okay like this?"

Yamada: "What's wrong, all of a sudden?"

Wife: "I don't have time, freedom, or money to go out and have fun. My friends are all having a good time, and I can't do anything. Honestly, I'm sick of this life."

Tears welled up in her eyes. Seeing her like that, I was speechless.I had thought I was doing my best for my family, but I realized painfully that it wasn't paying off at all. I realized that deeply.

Yamada: "I'm sorry. I'll work harder, so can't you wait just a little longer?"

That was all I could manage to say. However, she shook her head at my words.

Wife: "You've been saying the same thing for years. That you'll work hard. But nothing has changed, has it? The kids are going to need money soon, too, so there's no way we can just keep going like this."

Her words were logical, and there was no room for argument.My heart ached at my own helplessness and the reality that I wasn't making my family happy.

I barely slept that night, staring at the ceiling and thinking about my future. How could I change this situation? Should I get a better job? Even if I wanted to change jobs, wouldn't it be difficult for someone like me with no special skills or qualifications?

The next morning, my wife said nothing as she watched me leave for work with a tired face. She just took the children by the hand and closed the door without even seeing me off. That cold attitude made me feel even more depressed.

Even on the commuter train, all the other passengers looked happier than me. Businessmen in well-tailored suits, young people chatting happily. I couldn't help but feel like I was the only one being left behind.

Even when I got to the office, the work was monotonous and unrewarding, and my boss's evaluation remained low. While my colleagues were getting promoted one after another, it felt like I was the only one stagnating.

When I got home, my wife was sighing while looking at her smartphone alone after putting the children to bed. I hesitated to speak to her, but in the end, I couldn't say anything and headed to the bedroom myself.

The fear that my family might fall apart like this crossed my mind. I have to do something. But time just kept passing by while I had no idea what to do.

2. The beginning of the days of overwork

Witnessing my wife's dissatisfaction and stress, and driven by a strong sense of mission that I had to do something for my family, I decided to start a part-time job, thinking that my main salaryman job wasn't enough. My daily routine became a grueling schedule of heading straight to my part-time job after finishing my main job at 7:00 AM and working until 4:00 AM the next day. I only got about two or three hours of sleep, and I was reaching my physical and mental limits, but I kept telling myself,"I have to work hard for my family, for the smiles of my wife and children," and kept working desperately.

The part-time job was manual labor, and although it was physically demanding, I chose it because the hourly wage was good. It was a completely different environment from my daytime office work, and I was confused by the unfamiliar tasks at first, but with the help of my colleagues, I gradually became able to handle the work. However, fatigue accumulated, and I began to feel pain all over my body. Even so, I kept working without complaining, thinking,"This is all for my family."

When payday came, Yamada would be the first to buy the things his wife and children wanted."I'll buy them everything they want," he had decided in his heart. He bought them one after another things that had previously been out of reach, such as the luxury brand bags his wife had longed for and the latest toys his children wanted. Every time he saw his wife's happy face, he forgot his fatigue and felt happy.

However, in reality, even after getting what they wanted, his wife's desires shifted to new things one after another. Meals at luxury restaurants, trips to theme parks, the latest home appliances—new desires kept springing up. I was driven into a situation where I had to work even more to fulfill them. As a result,I couldn't save any money at all, all my income disappeared into consumption, and no financial leeway was ever created.

Meanwhile, I no longer had the leeway to look after my own life. Before I knew it, the homemade lunches were gone, and I was getting by on cheap rice balls and bread from convenience stores, and skipping lunch became a daily occurrence. I sometimes got sick from lack of sleep and overwork, but since I had neither the time nor the money to go to the hospital, I had no choice but to endure it. My interactions with friends had also ceased, and I had no time for hobbies at all.

Before I knew it, my wife started acquiring expensive brand-name goods one after another, and I was driven into a situation where I had absolutely no money to spend on myself.My wife began wearing new clothes and accessories, and spent more time with her friends at high-end restaurants and cafes. On her days off, she started leaving the children at home to enjoy outings with her friends.

During that time, I continued to spend my days taking care of the children and doing the housework. I got used to changing diapers, cooking meals, and giving them baths, living a life like a single father.My wife would always come home late at night, after the children were fast asleep. She would return looking exhausted and sometimes collapse into bed just like that.

I felt anxious that I was losing the ability to communicate with my wife, but I was too busy to find time for a deep conversation. “Is it really okay to go on like this?”The question would cross my mind, but I told myself that I had to do my best for the sake of my family's happiness.

However, I began to realize that I was reaching my limit. My body was constantly exhausted, and I increasingly found myself drifting in and out of consciousness due to sleepiness while at work. I made mistakes at my part-time job and was scolded by my supervisor. My performance at my main job also declined, and my colleagues began to worry about me.

Even so, I couldn't stop. “If I don't do my best here, my family won't be happy.”That thought was so strong that I couldn't allow myself to rest. Yet, at the same time, I felt myself breaking down.

One day, my child developed a fever, and I received a call from the nursery school asking me to come pick them up. However, I was at work and couldn't get away, so I contacted my wife. But my wife was on a trip with friends and told me she couldn't return right away. In the end, I left work early to pick up my child and took them to the hospital.

That night, Yamada told his wife, “I want you to pay a little more attention to things at home.” However, my wife got angry instead..

Wife: “I'm relieving my stress in my own way. If you earned more money, I wouldn't have to do things like this!”

I was stunned by those words. I felt that the fact that I was working desperately was not getting through at all.The frustration and sadness that had been building up inside me were about to overflow all at once, but I held them back.

Yamada: “I'm sorry, I'll try harder.”

That was all I could manage to say.

3. Lies and the expansion of debt

However, despite my days of overwork, the household financial situation did not improve at all. Rather, as my income increased, so did my expenses, and life became increasingly difficult. I couldn't bring myself to say that I was “incompetent,”so I ended up trying to keep up appearances.

One day, my wife wanted a new bag from a luxury brand. The price was far beyond my monthly income. I should have refused, but in my desire to meet my wife's expectations, I said this:

Yamada: “I recently got a promotion at work, so my salary went up, it's fine. I also got a big bonus.”

At those words, my wife's face brightened.

Wife: “Really? Then I'm relieved! Thank you!”

When I saw my wife's smile, the relief of being able to make her happyoutweighed the guilt of lying. I just didn't want to see my wife's sad face ever again... However, to buy that bag, I had to take out a new loan.

From then on, I continued to pile lie upon lie to meet the demands of my wife and children.

Yamada: “I became the leader of a new project, so my income will increase.”

Yamada: "I've been evaluated by my boss, and I'm going to get a special bonus."

These lies ended up cornering me. My debt snowballed, and the repayment amount kept increasing.However, I couldn't tell my family the truth, and I sank deeper and deeper into the hole.

To pay off my debts, I increased my part-time work hours even more. My sleep was cut short, and my body was reaching its limit. Still, I pretended to be fine in front of my family. One day, my child asked me with concern.

Child: "Daddy, are you sleepy?"

Yamada: "I'm fine. Daddy is invincible!"

I said that and patted their head, but deep down, I was starting to realize that my lies were affecting my family too.

To make matters worse, my debt repayments started to fall behind, and dunning letters from financial institutions began arriving at our home. Yamada desperately hid them so his wife wouldn't see them. Every time the phone rang, his heart would jump, and he was driven by anxiety, "Could this be a call about my debt?" he thought.

One night, my wife finally confronted me.

Wife: "Have you been hiding something lately?"

Yamada: "No, there's nothing in particular."

I said that to brush it off, but it seemed my wife's suspicions were not cleared.

And then, the decisive moment finally arrived. My wife accidentally found a dunning letter addressed to Yamada. Her face turned pale, and she asked in a trembling voice.

Wife: "What is this? I never heard that you had this much debt!"

Cornered with nowhere to run, I decided to confess everything. I explained the lies I had told, the amount of debt, and the reasons for it.

Yamada: "I'm sorry. The truth is, I haven't been promoted, and I didn't get a bonus. I lied about everything because I wanted to make you happy."

Tears were overflowing from my wife's eyes.

Wife: "Why did you tell such lies? We never wanted anything like that!"

Yamada: "I didn't want to disappoint you. I wanted you to have everything you wanted and be happy."

However, my wife's anger and sadness did not subside.

Wife: "You liar! You're the worst! Because of you, we're being dragged into this too. Since it's the debt you created, take responsibility for it yourself! The kids and I have nothing to do with it!"

I felt a deep sense of despair at those words.What I had started for the sake of my family had, in the end, resulted in hurting them.

From then on, my relationship with my wife and children became strained, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere hung over our home. There was no conversation at mealtimes, and my wife began to avoid me.

To pay off the debt, I continued to work even more grueling hours. I worked seven days a week, my body was falling apart, yet the debt showed no signs of decreasing.Meanwhile, my wife's spending did not stop, and there was no sign of her wasteful habits improving.She could not lower the standard of living she had once set, and she continued to shop and eat out as if to escape from her stress. It had become even more excessive than before.

I tried to talk to her many times, but my wife would not listen.

Wife: "I don't want to talk to you anymore. Take responsibility for what you've done."

Those cold words left me plagued by loneliness and a sense of helplessness. I was overcome with self-reproach, wondering if I had destroyed my family instead of protecting it. At the same time, I began to feel resentment toward my wife, who was spending everything I earned.

When I tried to discuss how we should manage our money, she would yell at me, blaming me for the divorce or for what I had done, and I was driven into a mental corner.Every time the phone rang, I felt the terror of debt collection, and my heart would pound violently.

Eventually, it began to affect my workplace. I made mistake after mistake at work and was severely reprimanded by my boss. I was losing my place there.

Just as I was standing on the brink of despair, wondering if there was nothing more I could do, a thought crossed my mind.

"I just want to disappear."

However, I scolded myself for being so weak and tried to find a way to recover.

"I can't give up yet. I have to do something to get my family back."

With that thought, I began to look for a new path. However, I had no way of knowing at the time that this choice would lead me into an even deeper darkness.

4. Days of being cornered

As his relationship with his wife grew cold and the bonds of his family thinned, Yamada pushed himself even further. He took on part-time jobs even on Saturdays and Sundays when his wife was home, working seven days a week from morning until late at night. His physical strength had reached its limit, but he was driven by a sense of urgency,"If I give up here, everything will be over."he thought.

However, no matter how much he worked, the debt never decreased. Instead, the interest grew, and the repayment amount only increased.His wife's spending did not stop, and he would hold his head in his hands every time he looked at the credit card statement.She kept buying new clothes, accessories, and cosmetics one after another. Even when Yamada suggested saving money, she would not listen.

Wife: "I'm stressed out too. I can't go on without at least this much enjoyment."

When she said that, he couldn't say anything back.He was supposed to be working for the happiness of his family, but the rift between him and that family was only deepening.

Every time the phone rang, his chest would tighten and his heart would pound.Calls and letters demanding payment for his debts began to arrive frequently, and even being at home became painful.He became afraid to open the mailbox and hesitant to answer the phone.

His health also deteriorated due to lack of sleep and stress. He suffered from headaches, dizziness, and stomach pain, and there were times when he almost collapsed at work. However, he had neither the time nor the money to go to the hospital, and he had no choice but to endure it.

One day, when I returned home, the water had been shut off.I hadn't realized that my utility payments were also overdue, and my life was becoming increasingly destitute.My wife expressed her anger and pressed me for answers.

Wife: "What is the meaning of this? We can't live like this!"

"I'm sorry. I'll do something about it right away."

However, time just kept passing without me finding any way to 'do something about it'.

Days were spent working while hungry, unable to even eat a proper meal. My weight dropped, and my complexion worsened. People around me said, 'You've lost weight,' but I couldn't feel happy about it.

I was mentally cornered, and the nights without sleep continued.Even when I got into bed, thoughts of my debts and my family swirled in my head, and sleep never came.

One night, while looking at the city night view from the balcony, I muttered,"What on earth am I doing?"The darkness at my feet looked eerie, and I shuddered involuntarily.

"I can't go on like this."

Even as I thought that, I had absolutely no idea what I should do.

Around that time, rumors of layoffs began to circulate at work."If I get laid off, everything will be over."That fear crossed my mind.

One day, I was called in by my boss.

"I have something to discuss regarding your recent performance."

My whole body trembled at his cold voice. In the end, it only resulted in a warning, but the anxiety thatI might really lose my job if things continue like thisgrew stronger.

With no place left for him at home or at work, Yamada felt increasingly lonely.He couldn't even contact his friends and was in a situation where he couldn't consult anyone.

At that moment, an old friend suddenly contacted me.

"It's been a while. How have you been?"

At those words, tears spilled from my eyes. When I told him about my current situation, he said kindly,

"Actually, there's a job where you can earn more. I thought it would be perfect for Yamada."

At those words, I decided to listen to him, clutching at straws. That was my encounter withmulti-level marketing.

5. Sweet temptations and reality

In a desperate situation, hearing from an old friend felt like a helping hand.

His voice was the same as before, and I felt a sense of relief along with nostalgia. When I honestly told him about my current situation, he listened with genuine concern.

My heart raced at his words. “This might be able to save my family.” Hope began to well up within me.

Yamada: "What kind of work is it?"

Friend: "I want to talk about the details in person. Do you have time?"

Clutching at straws, Yamada accepted his invitation. A few days later, he came to pick me up in a luxury car. I wondered why he had suddenly become so wealthy when he didn't drive such a car before.

Yamada: "That's an amazing car. How did you get it?"

Friend: "This is also thanks to my new business. If you start, Yamada, you can get one soon too."

He said that with a smile and had me get into the car. The interior had leather seats and a high-end sound system; it felt like a space out of a movie.

The car left the city and headed toward a high-end residential area in the suburbs. Among the large mansions, the car stopped in front of one grand house.

Yamada: "Where is this?"

Friend: "It's my business partner's house. Successful people gather here."

Yamada followed him into the mansion, feeling a bit nervous. Inside, dozens of men and women in suits were gathered, all chatting happily. With luxurious chandeliers and paintings on display, it felt like another world.

When they saw Yamada, they welcomed him warmly.

"So you're his friend. I've heard about you. Let's succeed together!"

I was overwhelmed by their bright smiles and confident attitudes. I felt that "everyone here is a successful person."

After chatting for a while, the business presentation began. They used a large screen to present the business model and success stories.

“This business works by paying an entrance fee to join the organization, and then the profits generated by the entire organization are distributed. There are set ranks: the cheapest is 250,000 yen, and the platinum rank is 560,000 yen. With the general rank, you can recover your investment in one year, and with platinum, you can recover it in half a year.”

They continued further.

“The mechanism is simple. When you invite a new member and they join, you receive a margin based on the rank they choose. In other words, the more you expand your network, the more your income increases.”

The presentation was sophisticated, with photos and videos of the luxurious lifestyles of successful people being projected one after another. Luxury cars, mansions, overseas trips, brand-name goods... They emphasized that it was thanks to this business that they were able to obtain them.

「The average annual income for a salaryman is about this much, right? But if you start this business, your annual income will be several times, no, dozens of times higher.」

Their words made my heart race.I felt, 'Could this be the opportunity I've been looking for?'I felt.

Furthermore, they spoke to me about the happiness of my family.

「Don't you want to make your family happier? Don't you want to be able to take them to hotels, on trips, and wherever they want to go whenever they want, and see the look of joy on their faces?」

At those words, Yamada pictured the smiles of his wife and children. His expectations swelled that he might be able to fulfill everything he hadn't been able to provide for them until now all at once.

「Depending on your own efforts, your annual income will rise, and that dream can come true.」

They asserted this and pushed me forward.

Yamada: "But, an initial investment is required, isn't it..."

Yamada voiced his anxiety.

「It's okay. You can take out a loan, and the initial investment can be recovered immediately.」

Their words were sweet and served to ease my anxiety.

After that, a social gathering with the successful people was held, and they told us about their own success stories.

「I also had debt and struggled at first, but since I started this business, my life changed in an instant.」

「I have more time with my family, and my children are proud of me.」

As I listened to their stories, I was completely convinced.I want to be like these people too. I want to make my family happy.

However, there was still hesitation in a corner of my heart.

「Will it really go that well...」

Perhaps sensing that anxiety, my friend put a hand on my shoulder and said,

Friend: "It's okay. I'll support you. Let's succeed together."

At his words, I finally began to make up my mind. However, remembering the amount of the initial investment, I remained doubtful about whether I could realistically come up with that money.

Yamada: "Actually, I don't have that kind of money on hand right now."

Friend: "Don't worry about it. We can support you with the loan application process, and since you can recover it quickly, there's no risk."

They skillfully continued the conversation, as if to dispel my anxieties one after another.

The night grew late, and my friend said in the car on the way home.

Friend: "You can definitely succeed. For the sake of your family, why don't you give it a try?"You can become a hero to your family, you know?"

At those words, Yamada's heart grew warm. If he could become a hero for his family, he wouldn't mind any hardship.

As Yamada pictured his family's faces,"I have to do this" became a stronger thought.

However, after returning home and thinking about it calmly, a great deal of anxiety grew once again. He couldn't borrow any more money, and he couldn't afford to fail. So, he decided to look up the business online.

The search results were filled with keywords like "royalty-based scam business," "numerous lawsuits," and "victims' voices." The official website hadn't been updated in over a year, and all the information lacked credibility.

Is this the best path to achieve happiness for my family? Or is there something going on behind the scenes?

"As I thought, there's no such thing as an easy way to make money..."

Yamada was stunned and felt angry at his own shallowness for almost being deceived. At the same time, anger welled up toward them for trying to manipulate him using his family's happiness as bait.

"I have to settle this once and for all."

Yamada made that resolution and decided to meet with him again.

6. Confronting the Anger

Having realized that he had almost been deceived, Yamada's heart was filled with anger and regret. He felt completely betrayed by the fact that a friend he had trusted was trying to drag him into a scam business.

"Why did it come to this... I only wanted to protect my family."

Yamada solidified his resolve to meet him one more time and demand the truth. He made a phone call and requested another meeting.

"I want you to let me hear the details one more time."

He readily agreed to my request, and a meeting was set up at a restaurant in the station's department store. However, unlike last time, I intended to observe his words and actions with a cool head.

When I arrived at the location, he greeted me with his usual bright smile.

Friend: "Thanks for coming. Have you made up your mind?"

Yamada nodded quietly and sat down. Then, based on the information he had researched in advance, he began to ask them questions.

Yamada: "Actually, I've looked into this business quite a bit, and it seems like there are many lawsuits being filed. What do you think about that?"

His expression clouded for a moment, but he quickly returned to a smile.

Friend: "That's a thing of the past. It's a new organization now, and there are no problems at all. It's a chance to get the first-mover advantage."

Yamada pressed him further.

Yamada: "But the official website hasn't been updated, and there are many voices of victims being raised. Is this really a trustworthy business?"

He answered with a slightly irritated look.

Friend"I'm actually succeeding, and I have proof of that. I have money and my family is happy. Yamada, you can grab that chance too, you know? I'm reaching out to you because I'm worried about you."

At that moment, he said something unexpectedly.

Friend: "Wouldn't it be a pity for your child if things stay the way they are?"

At those words, something snapped deep inside Yamada. His anger reached its peak at his attitude of trying to corner Yamada further by using his family's happiness as bait.

Yamada: "That's enough!"

Yamada stood up instinctively and grabbed him by the collar. People around us started to murmur, and all eyes were turned toward us at once.

Yamada: "Aren't you taking advantage of people's weaknesses and doing something bordering on fraud! Don't drag my family into this!"

He hurriedly tried to calm me down.

Friend: "Calm down, calm down, it's a misunderstanding, I'm genuinely thinking of you..."

Yamada: "I don't want to hear it anymore! Don't ever contact me again!"

Tears welled up from anger, regret, and pity.I felt a deep sense of despair realizing how far I had been cornered, and that everything I believed I was doing for my family was a lie.

I left the scene, feeling the gazes of those around me. Once outside, the cold wind hit my face, and I regained a little bit of my composure.

Yamada: "How pathetic I am..."

Muttering that with self-mockery, I walked away quickly.

7. What remained was regret and pity

After the confrontation, Yamada headed home with heavy steps, carrying deep regret and pity in his heart. Self-loathing grew as he felt anger at being cornered and nearly deceived, and realized that the results of his actions, which he believed were for his family, had come to this.

The hustle and bustle of the city didn't reach his ears; he just kept walking while facing his inner self. Everyone passing by looked happy, and he was struck by a sense of loneliness as if he were the only one left behind.

"What a pathetic human being I am."

Thinking that, I couldn't hold back the tears welling up and stopped in my tracks. I had intended to work desperately for my family, but the result was lies, debt, and a rift between me and my family.

Crushed by my own helplessness, I sat down, holding my head in my hands. People around me passed by, looking at me with suspicious eyes, and even those gazes felt painful.

"I only wanted to make my family happy, so why did it end up like this?"

Looking back at my past actions, I realized they were full of mistakes. The result of trying to keep up appearances, piling on lies, and trying to hide my weaknesses had led to my current situation.

I realized painfully that I had been unable to show my true self to my wife and children, and had kept running away from problems. That was what destroyed the trust with my family and isolated me.

"If I had been honest sooner, maybe things wouldn't have turned out like this."

However, time doesn't turn back even if you regret it. In reality, the debt is growing, and my relationship with my family has turned cold. I have no idea what to do from here on.

At that moment, my smartphone vibrated and a notification appeared. When I looked, it was a dunning email from the bank. The moment I saw it, my heart pounded hard, and I felt suffocated.

"I've reached my limit..."

I was driven by the urge to throw everything away, but my child's smile floated into my mind. Remembering the sight of my child laughing innocently, tears overflowed and wouldn't stop.

"I don't want my child, of all people, to go through this."

With that single thought, I managed to stand up and head home. However, even when I returned home, my relationship with my wife had not been repaired, and a cold atmosphere hung in the air.

In the living room, my wife was staring at her smartphone, and she wouldn't even make eye contact when I, Yamada, came home. My child was holed up in their room, and I couldn't even talk to them.

“We’re family, so why have we become so distant?”

My heart tightened again at my own pathetic state. Even though I was supposed to be with my family, I felt as if I were the only one trapped in loneliness.

That night, I lay in bed unable to sleep, staring at the ceiling and thinking. What should I do from now on? Is there any way to break through this situation?

“I’ll stop running away. I’ll tell them everything honestly and apologize to my family.”

I made up my mind. If I lost their trust as a result of continuing to lie, the only way to regain it was to tell the truth. I decided to tell my wife the next day that I had reached my limit, and I did so.

7. Re-examining myself

In the end, my wife flew into a rage and started yelling as usual, but Yamada no longer had the energy to apologize or the spirit to empathize with her feelings. My utter lack of energy seemed to catch her off guard, and I think she realized that things were truly dire.

Yamada“I will take care of all the money matters myself. Just let me handle the repayments once. I understand that you have things you want and that you want to hang out with your friends. But I’ve reached my limit as things are. Please return all the credit cards. Tell me what money you need. I will provide it.”

Perhaps sensing a chill from Yamada, who spoke in a detached, hollow state, my wife’s shouting subsided; she simply wrote down the requested monthly amount on a piece of paper, returned the cards, and retreated to the bedroom.

Through this event, Yamada felt strongly that he needed to face himself.To truly make my family happy, I must first stand firmly on my own two feet.I realized painfully that it is important to live honestly and work steadily, rather than being swayed by temporary temptations or sweet words. This is where Yamada’s life of honesty begins.

In the end, I couldn't solve the fundamental problems immediately, but after that, Iunderwent debt consolidationand gradually improved the situation. I worked hard at my studies in my spare time and succeeded in advancing my career. We are by no means wealthy, but bynot spending money on myself and using it for my wifeinstead, she stays in a good mood without changing her standard of living.

Also, years after childbirth, my wife’s mental balance has gradually stabilized. The fact that our child can do everything on their own and that she has beenrelieved of parenting stressis also a major factor.

My wife’s demands remain unchanged in some respects, but now that I honestly tell her when I cannot meet demands that exceed my limits, things are working out. In fact, we’ve recently gotten used to that and have started to get along well.

“I can’t go on like this, I have to do something.”One of the reasons Yamada started this note was to remind himself not to repeat the same mistakes. I hope that through my own experience, I can be of some help to those who may face similar worries in the future.

I would be happy if you could follow me on Twitter (X) and leave a comment! I want to interact with many people, so Yamada would be happy even if you just leave a word.
Yamada Twitter (X) Account

https://twitter.com/yamada_thun_der

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