Truth Or Dare

“Truth or dare?” Katrina asked after work came to a close.

Jonathan didn't know why he agreed to the game. Boredom probably. He was out of his mind with desperation for a distraction from the anxiety he could never depart from. So he took her offer to play a game she said would, “get to know each other better.” He had a sickening feeling about it, but was too shy- no. Scared. He was scared to back down…Scared for what he would choose, and scared for what he would hear.

“Truth.” He responded with tight nerves and an agitated tone. He refused with every fiber in his being to get up from his chair to do a dare. Then he realized his mistake for choosing truth. He wasn't the best of liars. Good maybe, but under the right circumstances, he could put Pinocchio’s nose to shame. He was aware his cunning and possibly intimidating persona only worked on strangers. So when someone knew him as well as she did, there was nothing he could do to hide the childish nervousness he tried to push aside in fear of being outwitted by the wrong crowd.

“What are you doing with all those machines you make? They disappear so suddenly…” She tilted her head in what he assumed was innocence, but he could see her fighting back a sadistic smile.

It took him a minute to answer as he played with his options. He refused to show the side she wanted to see- The side he couldn't let go of. He knew this wasn't just a playful game to befriend one another. She wanted answers, and he wasn’t going to tell her the people he sold them to. He wished it was nothing more than a side hustle, but the black market was difficult to escape, and desperate times for call for desperate measures. He was alone, tired, and in the need of money.

“Donations.” He sneered, upholding the bold man he always portrayed.

“How chartable.” She smiled, her voice cheerful and accepting.

He wanted to believe her tone was genuine, but he knew he couldn’t.

“Your turn.” His trembling voice raked the air with it’s pathetic attempts to sound angry. “Truth or dare?”

Her fake expression fell to a poker face. “Truth… It’s only fair.”