The Art of Lying

             Locked away, he had lots of time to think. Think of the good, the bad, and the in between. The thought that occurred most was his past. His family. "We'd be there for you, every step of the way."Always a lie with them. Oh, how they always lie. It was an unspoken skill that had been passed down from parent to kid. Do this, but not that. Say this, don't show that. It was so effortless to them. For a while, he too had succumbed to the pressure. He thought better of it after quickly having a taste of the lifestyle. So, he changed, but he lied about that too. He lied to fit in, he lied to himself. So did he really change? Dead in the eyes, a smile here, a little laugh there, maybe some hand motions for flare. The technique was impeccable. Thought out and practiced for years, it had been soon mastered by all. Maybe he hadn't changed, but he did learn trust is a two-way street. Sometimes he didn't even know he was lying to himself, a self that he didn't trust. Although, he did know they can't lie if you don't trust them. People will trust you and you can trust that they will fall for it, it'll work like it always does. From then on, he stopped trusting. He didn't believe, he didn't listen, he never even gave them a chance. At last, beaten at their own game. No lie was ever noticed by him again and all he did was lie. Oh, how sorry he'd be. Then on, for the good, the bad, and the in between, he lived locked away.