In my novel Into the Night and Gone, two of the central characters find themselves in an extremely difficult situation. The moment is resolved with a little lie. It resolves as so:
“She smiled… In that smile he could see that she knew he was lying, but she didn’t care. That lie was the truth she needed.”
There are moments in life when communicating the facts is not as urgent or important as providing comfort. Times when we understand what’s real – and what isn’t – but we choose the softer version anyway.
Why? Because humans are not purely rational beings. We’re also deeply emotional. And that means that sometimes the heart needs reassurance more than accuracy.
Into the Night and Gone wrestles with those moments – the spaces between what we know and what we’re willing to believe, especially when love is involved.
Sometimes a “lie” isn’t about deception. It’s about mercy.
What do you think?