Derrick was a young boy who came from a poor but loving family. As the only child, he often felt burdened by their struggles and blamed his parents for not doing enough to escape poverty. His father had lost his job years ago after being falsely accused of theft at the mine where he worked. Since then, he had remained unemployed. Derrick’s mother was uneducated and couldn’t find formal work, but together, they ran a small business that barely sustained the family.

Despite their hardships, Derrick’s parents were generous people. They often helped those in need, even when they didn’t have much themselves. To Derrick, this kindness felt like the reason they were still poor, and he resented it.

When Derrick passed his Grade 12 exams, he was offered a scholarship to study at the university. However, his parents couldn’t afford his basic needs, like transport, clothes, and food. He was frustrated and angry. That night, he cried himself to sleep, wishing with all his heart that he was rich.

The next morning, everything had changed. In his dream, his father received a surprise call from an old friend he had once helped with English. The friend, now a senior manager at a mine, offered him a high-paying job. From that day, their lives transformed completely; they moved into a beautiful house, bought new clothes, and Derrick was able to attend university in style.

At school, Derrick joined a group of wealthy students, Ken, Felix, Karen, Nora, and Alicia who lived recklessly and partied without limits. He was quickly drawn into their world of drugs, alcohol, and bad decisions. Over time, he lost focus, skipped classes, and became addicted to substances. Eventually, he was expelled from university for his behaviour.

Things only got worse. Alicia, his girlfriend, told him she was pregnant. In a heated argument, overwhelmed by pressure and fear, Derrick pushed her. She fell, hit her head, and died instantly. In a panic, Derrick tried to cover up the incident. When the maid walked in and saw what had happened, he killed her too.

Haunted by guilt and paranoia, Derrick’s health began to deteriorate. He was later diagnosed with liver cancer, which had already spread to other parts of his body. Lying alone in a hospital bed, he realized that all the money in the world couldn’t buy him peace, love, or a second chance.

Then he woke up.

Drenched in sweat and shaking with fear, Derrick realized it had all been a terrible dream. Nothing had changed, his family was still poor, his parents still struggling, and he was still waiting to begin university. But now, he saw things differently. He felt grateful for his life, for his parents’ love, and for the warning he had received through the dream.

Rushing to his parents, Derrick hugged them tightly and cried. “I’m sorry for ever complaining. I don’t want to be rich anymore, I want to work hard and make you rich one day.”

His father looked at him seriously. “That’s a big promise, son. Are you sure you can keep it?”

“I believe he can,” his mother said, smiling.

“I will,” Derrick said, determined. “I’ll study day and night. I’ll stay away from bad influences. I’ve seen what happens when you chase riches the wrong way.”

His parents hugged him tightly, tears in their eyes. From that day on, Derrick became a new person, focused, humble, and driven by the desire to make his parents proud, not just with wealth, but with a life of meaning and integrity.

He had learned the hard way through a nightmare, that true wealth isn’t measured by money, but by character, choices, and love.