Lies

Lies. I've told a lot of them. Some I've gotten away with, some I've gotten in trouble for. One lie cost me my whole life, and now I had to live with it. One day, I was at home, living my best life. Next, I was in the auditorium of my school, in the middle of the stage, telling the biggest lie of my life. I never knew my life would take such a drastic turn; it just happened. Every day, I head to St. Elias Middle School, do my classes, and head straight home. No distractions, no friends, no family; I'm all alone. A few years ago, I had a wonderful, loving family who adored me. I was always the center of attention, until I wasn't. I had told lots of lies in my life, but this one was the biggest one I've ever told.

"Ha, she's so weird! "

"Yeah, I know. She doesn't even have a family, what a loser! "

That's what I've been told every single day of my life. The memory of that night haunts me—flames licking at the walls, my family’s voices fading as I ran. All because of a stupid joke, a lie that spiraled out of control. Of course, I didn't set it, but I told a lie that did. I told my friends that my family was toxic, and if I could, I would burn them to the ground. I always told them about how horrible my parents were, and how I wanted to kill them so badly. I was joking obviously, but my friends didn't think so. Apparently, I thought my friends were playing 2 truths and a lie, but they weren't. So that night, they told their parents, and their parents came to my little home, and set it on fire. I escaped, but my family didn't. Now, I have no family, I'm lonely, and I'm forced to live with my next door neighbor, Olivia.

"C'mon Rose! We should sign up for this speech and debate contest! Whoever wins, gets to earn a medal! Sadly, they have to do a speech right after that, but this could be so much fun! "

“Olivia, I really don’t want to. Can we just go home and study for the test?”

"Ugh, when did you become so boring? Was it because your parents died? "

I froze in place, staring at the ground in pain.

"You have no right to say that, " I said, still staring at the ground, " I'll walk home. I certainly don't want to drive home in a car with such a toxic person. "

"Hey, you know I didn't mean that... If it makes you feel any better, I signed you up for the speech and debate contest! " Olivia said, happily.

"Like I said, I don't want to. " I walked away, and stared at the ground, tears streaming down my face. I clenched my hands in a fist, and frowned. It wasn't your fault... Oliva had no right to say what she said, but she's right. I did become boring. And I'm wrong, It was my fault.

As I walked home, I unclenched my fists, and stared at a happy family. A kid happily giggling, and holding dearly onto her mother's hand. Her father, who was walking behind them, was smiling, and enjoying the time he had with his daughter. The time that I never had with mine. I frowned and shrugged off my pain. I jingled the keys in my hand, and opened the door. Hesitantly, I walked past Olivia, who was staring straight at me, and stormed off into my room. As I plopped onto the small, twin bed, I stared at the stained wall blankly. The silence was heavy, pressing down on me like the weight of my guilt. Outside, the happy family’s laughter drifted through the window, a cruel reminder of what I’d lost. I closed my eyes, but the images of that night—the fire, the screams, the lies—played on repeat in my mind.

“It was my fault,” I whispered to the empty room. “And now I have to live with it.” That night, I heard a knock at the door.

"Hey... Can I come in? " Olivia stared at the ground, then looked at me.

"Sure, " I said, blankly. As Olivia tried to make amends, my mind drifted off into space, and made me realize that I should become a better person, a less boring one.

"So, I had no right to say that. Are we good? " Olivia asked, holding out her hand for me to shake.

"We're good, " I said, smiling.

"So, what caused the fire anyway? "

My heart shattered, as pain started to rise up again. I felt my fists starting to clench, and anger building up inside of me.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I was just wondering... I'll go, " Olivia said as she got up for the bed, and walked out of the small room. As I started to calm down, I sighed.

"What is wrong with me? Can't I talk about my family without getting angry? To prove my worth, I'm going to do that speech and debate contest, and do my best! I'll be friends with Olivia, and become a better person in the end! I'm sure of it. "

The next day, I made a promise: I will become a better person, even if it requires a little bit of lying. So, the next day, I apologized to Olivia and went to school. That day was speech and debate practicing, so, I went over to Mrs. Howler's classroom, and put on a smile. As I practiced speaking, it got me thinking: If I won, what speech would I make? Tell a lie and tell everyone I was a hero? Suddenly, Olivia came into view.

"Hey, are you okay? "

"Yeah, I'm just excited for the contest next week!"

"Okay! Let's keep practicing Rose! One of us HAVE to win! "

"Yep, let's do this. "

The week flew by, and before we knew it, it was time for the contest. Olivia was up first against Timothy Newton, who was in our ELA class. Sadly, Olivia lost, and soon enough, me and Timothy were the last two people.

"So, Your category is... Is social media good for kids? Rose, you are defending, Timothy, you are opposing. You have 5 minutes. Ready? Go! "

"So, Social Media is good for kids because it can help them not feel excluded, they can learn new things, and they can make new friends! "

"Although those are valid points, I disagree. Social Media should not be allowed for kids because it can rot their brains, they can get hurt by comments, and they could get cyberbullied by people who want to satisfy their FOMO. "

Timothy was not making this easy on me, but I wasn't going down without a fight.

"Well, although those types of things might happen, kids could also get FOMO by being left out by not having Social Media. "

"Well... Uh... I-" Timothy stuttered, and the time was up.

"Time's up! Rose wins! "

Mrs. Howler hands me a large gold medal that read: Winner of 2025 Speech and Debate Contest

"I-I won? Really?! "

Olivia ran up to me, "You won, you won! I knew you could do it! " Olivia hugged me tightly, as her mother stood behind her, smiling.

"I know your parents would be proud of you Rose, " her mother said.

"Thanks, " I smiled, and brushed off my shirt. I walked up to the microphone in the middle of my school's auditorium, and prepared my speech. I haven't practiced my speech a lot, because I never thought I would win. So, as I stood up there, I froze. I thought about what I was going to say, and told the biggest lie I had ever made.

"So, I did this contest because my friend Olivia wanted me to do it with her. I never thought in a million years that I would win, but here I am. When I was little, I was adored by my family, but one day, some bad people decided to set my house on fire. I escaped, but my family was still in the house. I decided to go back in there and try to save them, but the smoke was too thick and I couldn't see them. I grabbed hold of my dad's arm, but he couldn't breathe and that was the point in my life where I knew that I was alone. So, after that point in my life, I felt guilty about all of the things that had happened, but I decided to try to be a better person for everyone. For my family! " Everyone cheered and smiled at me, while Olivia looked at me with a confused look. I ignored her, and enjoyed my glory, but something inside of me still felt icky. After the contest, Olivia came up to me, and stared at me confused.

"What? Why are you staring at me? "

"It's just... You always told me that you were too scared to go back in the house to get your parents, so why did you lie? "

"I-I didn't really have a clear story, so I just said stuff that came up to my brain! "

"I think you just like the fame and glory. Don't get too caught up in yourself, Rose. Goodnight. "

Olivia slammed the bedroom door behind her as she walked out of my room. "I think you just like the fame and glory. Don't get too caught up in yourself. " The words still repeated in my head. I stared down at the gold medal I was wearing around my neck. I put it aside, and laid down on my hard mattress. I closed my eyes, trying not to feel guilty about the lie I told, but I just couldn't shake it off. In the morning, I pulled Olivia aside.

"You were right, maybe I am just caught up in glory. I'm sorry, can we be friends again? I'll tell the whole school about what I did! Just tell me what I need to do! "

"You don't have to do that, but it would be nice of you to own up for your own actions. "

"Perfect! I'll do it during lunch. Thanks for everything Olivia! "

I ran out of the house and locked the door behind me. I smiled and ran to school. At lunch time, I stood up on a chair.

I hesitated, but when I finally got the courage to speak, I confidently spoke. "Everyone, may I please have your attention? I have a confession to make. Do you know when I told you I tried to save my family, but I couldn't? Well, it was all a lie. I was a coward and couldn't do it. I only told you that because I wanted glory from you. I'm sorry, and I won't do it again. "

Olivia smiled and helped me get down from the chair.

"You may have embarrassed yourself in front of the whole middle school, but you still have me. " Olivia smiled, and held out her hand to me.

"Thanks! " I grinned, and we walked out of the school cafeteria together, happily. Lies. I've told a lot of them. Some I've gotten away with, some I've gotten in trouble for. But, I have learned that you should not lie as much, but even if you do, you can still own up for your mistakes and learn, just like I did.