Lies We Tell Ourselves

by Robin Talley

Talking to her made me feel like something was buzzing in my veins. Even if I’d spent the whole day up until then feeling empty and dull.

We feel it so much we don’t want to talk about it. Talking about it means feeling it all over again.

Mr. Lewis is either a liar or too naive for his own good.

I think kissing could just be for special occasions, really.

But I’m not a little girl anymore. The monsters that lurk now are real. And I can’t let them see that I’m afraid.

But I wasn’t hiding alone. Not anymore.

Except I’ll be a different kind of leader. I won’t lie to my people.

“Don’t you see, Sarah?” Ruth says. “Someone has to do this. If we give up, nothing will ever change.”