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The Burden of Lies |
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I walked home with heavy steps, my heart pounding and my ears burning. I had
a premonition that something bad was going to happen.
My slow pace eventually led me home. "Mom, I'm back," I said softly as I was
about to enter my room. But my mother stopped me and asked, "Why are you
back so late?" "I... I was sweeping the floor," I replied, staring at the
ground.
"Does it take that long to sweep the floor? Did you go to the internet cafe
again?" my mother asked sternly. "No... no, I didn't," I stammered. "Then
what were you doing?" my mother asked. "I really was sweeping the floor," I
said, too afraid to tell the truth for fear of being scolded by my mother.
My mother eventually stopped asking me questions, and I thought I had gotten
away with it. But for the rest of the afternoon, I was tormented by guilt
and anxiety. I couldn't confess that I had been left behind at school
because I hadn't finished my homework because I was afraid that my mother
would ignore me. I didn't realize that the lie I had told to protect myself
from punishment had become a burden on my conscience.
That evening, I couldn't take it anymore. I went to my mother in tears and
confessed, "I didn't sweep the floor this afternoon." I thought my mother
would be angry when she heard my confession, but she asked me kindly, "What
were you doing then?" I replied, "I was left behind at school because I
didn't finish my homework." My mother stroked my head and said, "Child, Mom
knew all along. I just wanted to see if you would be honest. You made a
mistake, but as long as you know how to correct it, you are a good child.
Acknowledging your mistakes and improving is the greatest virtue!"
I could see my mother's kind face creased with a few more wrinkles. After
that, I realized that being honest is an important trait to have and that we
should correct our mistakes. |
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