The Good Lie

by A.R. Torre

“You manipulate people for a living. Manipulation to fit and believe your narrative. You play with emotions and, sometimes, facts.”

We were a wrecked car, barreling down the highway without lights, our steering locked into place. I could put a seat belt on. I could reach out and jab the hazard lights on. But I couldn’t turn off the car, and I couldn’t seem to open the door and fling myself out. There was calamity ahead—I just had no idea what it would look like.

It was a fart in a silent room. That’s why it made a big stink.

William S. Burroughs once said that no one owns life, but anyone who can lift a frying pan can create death. He was right. Killing is the easy part. The act of living—of finding happiness in life—that’s the hard part.