AMELIA LEAL I was once taught that lying is ugly and dishonest, but I was never warned about the consequences. Well, I discovered that in addition to being painful, they can be irreversible. At ten, when all I wanted was to be accepted, I lied to help a classmate, Justine, fake a stomachache and get out of her calculus exam. The same day the girl sent me a “Thank you” message full of admiration, I didn't know at the time if I should feel praised, but I liked having her gratitude. A week later, the principal suspended me. It took some time for me to realize that the lie surrounded me, constituted everything I knew and, consequently, was part of who I was too. There was no escape, I kept lying not because I liked it, but because I was too good to ignore. I learned that no matter how screwed up you are inside, if a beautiful smile is shaping your lips, in the end, no one wants to see tears or know about your anguish.My smiles were rehearsed, dictated, just like my clothes and life.
Last Updated : 2023-03-31 Read more