It's impossible for me to lie. When I try, my face reddens and my eyes dart to heaven. Tells, for sure. However, the truth can be a sharp-edged creature, so when I delivered the message, I tried to do so with the least damage. “She’s leaving. Not coming back. Divorce papers on the way,” became, “She’s gone to her sister’s. Not sure when she’ll return. You will hear from her soon. Promise.” All true, but the Tells gave me away.
Sometimes, the best stories we tell are the mostly true ones...
LIES:
I remember listening to Rubbercheck at coffee this one time. He was in the parking lot smoking a jay with the boys and telling them guys about the concert we were at the night before. He said it was awesome, even told them what was on the set list, and what a cool light show they had. Damned well made me wish I’d been there with him. I mean, we went last night, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s was all lies he was telling them. It’s just that we couldn’t get any tickets and never got inside.
His lies enveloped her like a familiar child's comfort blanket which she snuggled safely inside. She ran the household with the pool, the housekeeper, cook, gardener and cleaner. She had the generous personal budget. She chose when she joined him at those official dinners with their beautifully cooked food, great speakers and good dance music. She had the freedom whereas he was knotted inside his web of lies and younger and younger mistresses.
The wagon train camped along a clear stream, fed by spring snow melt. A huge live oak beckoned Jakob Schmidt while retrieving water. A knee-high rock lay under the tree. Fresh, crudely chiseled words on it.
Under this rock lies the scoundrel Lester Pitts
Died March 1852
Hung by Marshal Thorn Everett
Ne’er a more evil man
His living a curse
His death a gift
Jakob looked westward. Hundreds of miles lay ahead. He hurried back to wife and baby.
That his arthritis was so painful, she was forced to put him down. That the vet's assistant had coldly handed her Charlie's stiff, fifty pound body. That she had somehow managed to carry him across the lawn, before digging a hole and burying him behind the garden.
All lies. The whole story. What really happened?
I felt dizzy. What else had she lied about? And why?
Everything he saw ahead of him pointed towards their extinction.
And that was not what they needed to hear from him right now.
And he certainly couldn’t tell them what was really worrying him: the idea that the gods had been wrong—that his father was unworthy of them, and that if he’d been accepted into their halls then they were clearly not paying close enough attention. If they were there at all.
If they ever existed in the first place.
Raising that question probably wouldn’t play well with this crowd.
He raised his voice to make sure they could all hear him, and he steeled himself to do the opposite of what he wanted to do.
PROMPT: LIES
THE PIER
He’d brought her to their favourite spot, on the pier where they’d met, to tell her it was over, hoping it would soften the blow.
It didn’t.
He said he couldn’t live a lie any more.
He was a fraud, and always had been, with a different job and a different life.
In fact, he was already married.
Consumed by rage, and feeling completely humiliated, she pushed him over the railings, and watched him slowly disappear beneath the icy waves.
Which proved one thing about the last five years had been true, at least.
He’d always said he couldn’t swim… 🌊😎🌊
It's impossible for me to lie. When I try, my face reddens and my eyes dart to heaven. Tells, for sure. However, the truth can be a sharp-edged creature, so when I delivered the message, I tried to do so with the least damage. “She’s leaving. Not coming back. Divorce papers on the way,” became, “She’s gone to her sister’s. Not sure when she’ll return. You will hear from her soon. Promise.” All true, but the Tells gave me away.
This was difficult but here is my story....
“You ready?”
“Can I see inside first?”
I smiled, opening the cube and revealing the silver interior.
“You sure it’ll cure any illness?” she said, peeking around, her eyes settling on the chair inside.
“Yes. Eighty thousand have been in here. Ever heard them complain?”
“No.” She stepped inside and sat down.
“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to you through it.” I closed the door. “Are you ok?”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
I pressed the button, “Are you ok?”
Silence, “Next, please.”
Lies - 80 words
Here lies Truth
May it rest in pieces
like my heart after you
left me here
to mourn
Here lies Love
Sadly missed by us both
after the flames had died
and the chill
set in
Here lies Hope
Departed much too soon
yet never forgotten
and looked for
daily
Here lies Life
Disappeared long ago
destroyed by your demons
ransacking
my soul
Here lies Sex
Taken most cruelly
during the long dark night
when you slept
elsewhere
Fuck you.
Microdosing Fiction – 80mg of Lies
===
She walked out of the interrogation room, feeling good about her records. Surviving years of keeping the nation’s top secret was no small feat.
She stepped out on the sidewalk; the sun was gentle, the air was cool, and her heart slowed down again.
She thought of her first teacher, who introduced the game.
‘Make up a story and feel your heart. It will beat faster.’
Having a slow heart, she could lie and blend in perfectly, even during interrogation.
oh yes indeed.
Sometimes, the best stories we tell are the mostly true ones...
LIES:
I remember listening to Rubbercheck at coffee this one time. He was in the parking lot smoking a jay with the boys and telling them guys about the concert we were at the night before. He said it was awesome, even told them what was on the set list, and what a cool light show they had. Damned well made me wish I’d been there with him. I mean, we went last night, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s was all lies he was telling them. It’s just that we couldn’t get any tickets and never got inside.
Sweet little lies – 80mg
His lies enveloped her like a familiar child's comfort blanket which she snuggled safely inside. She ran the household with the pool, the housekeeper, cook, gardener and cleaner. She had the generous personal budget. She chose when she joined him at those official dinners with their beautifully cooked food, great speakers and good dance music. She had the freedom whereas he was knotted inside his web of lies and younger and younger mistresses.
You look fat. Your eyes are too far apart. Nobody likes you.
My mind spins lies every morning.
I love your shirt. This coffee is great. Thanks for the haircut, it’s just what I wanted.
My mouth spits lies all day long.
Do this exercise to get abs in 4 weeks. Vaccines will kill you. The LA wildfires are because of DEI.
My phone feeds me lies every evening.
Surrounded by so many lies I’ve forgotten what truth even means.
Very appropriate for these times!
Thank you!
very clever. And can be so true
Thanks!!
Thank you , Jeannine for the like !
I told Jim, who told Ross, who assumed what Jim said was true and asked for crypto tips at the luncheon.
“The market is too uncertain to say.”
Did I go to any secret parties?
“It’s distasteful to talk about luxury.” Business suits eavesdropped from neighboring tables. “No one likes a braggart.”
He apologized. When talking about our startups ran its course, I picked up a slice of beef and drew upon the documentaries I’d watched.
“If this was wagyu-”
Just watched Juror 2.
A man who thought through
Realized he was guilty
But voted for a patsy
An innocent man is locked
Up and in definite shock
Because he knows he
Went home and didn't see
His woman who walked down
the road and was found
dead in a creek
And the truth did seek
When Juror 2 realized
The facts were sized
to assure his guilt
But the family he had built
Made him change his mind
And go against what the truth did find
Until the prosecutor did her job
And would not let the truth be robbed!
When you learn the truth
And don't stand up is uncouth
To let lies stand in place
Blind justice must hang her face.
Thank you Scott for the like
Thank you C. J. for the like .
5hank you ,Miguel!
Lies / 80 Words
The wagon train camped along a clear stream, fed by spring snow melt. A huge live oak beckoned Jakob Schmidt while retrieving water. A knee-high rock lay under the tree. Fresh, crudely chiseled words on it.
Under this rock lies the scoundrel Lester Pitts
Died March 1852
Hung by Marshal Thorn Everett
Ne’er a more evil man
His living a curse
His death a gift
Jakob looked westward. Hundreds of miles lay ahead. He hurried back to wife and baby.
LIES
"That's not how Charlie died," my father said.
I was stunned. "But Mom said--"
That his arthritis was so painful, she was forced to put him down. That the vet's assistant had coldly handed her Charlie's stiff, fifty pound body. That she had somehow managed to carry him across the lawn, before digging a hole and burying him behind the garden.
All lies. The whole story. What really happened?
I felt dizzy. What else had she lied about? And why?
𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 Miguel S.| 80 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 | 𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗦
_____
Creeping blackberries and thick grass camouflaged rows of primitive graves. Twilight leeched the color, stole the warmth. Secrets hid in shadows.
“This place is creepy,” Sis said, tucking herself under my arm as we skirted around the old cemetery.
I drew her closer. “Look at all these families––together for eternity.” I pointed to the crumbling wall delineating an unmanicured family plot.
“Will we always be together?”
“Of course,” I said with a squeeze, adding to my list of lies.
_____
Written in the world of the Forged series. Shattered, book one, is coming from Provender Press later this spring!
Oh, I liked this one!
Everything he saw ahead of him pointed towards their extinction.
And that was not what they needed to hear from him right now.
And he certainly couldn’t tell them what was really worrying him: the idea that the gods had been wrong—that his father was unworthy of them, and that if he’d been accepted into their halls then they were clearly not paying close enough attention. If they were there at all.
If they ever existed in the first place.
Raising that question probably wouldn’t play well with this crowd.
He raised his voice to make sure they could all hear him, and he steeled himself to do the opposite of what he wanted to do.
https://shieldbreakersaga.substack.com/p/the-last-of-the-etela-chapter-2