The plain and simple truth

Nothing is ever quite what it seems.

I noticed this as a very young child and it gave me nightmares.  I used to dream that people I knew weren't really who I thought they were.

Childish imagination?  Paranoia?  Intuition?  Or maybe just the simple truth.

I still am acutely uncomfortable when someone is hiding something and the surest way to lose my company is to lie to me.  It doesn't matter how good the reason, it shatters my trust.

I have lived with half truths and outright lies so much of my life.  Some people use them to avoid confrontation and it will do that for me.  I simply don't want to confront you or deal with you at all if you can't be honest with me.

My favorite uncle turned out to be a CIA agent.  That was why he was gone all the time.  I discovered that after he was dead.  I suppose he had to keep it a secret, but I always wondered where he went when he was gone.

My god father was an English professor by day (and an opera playboy by night and summer!)  I didn't know about the latter until I was quite grown up.

Someone nearer and dearer was not who I thought either and that was such a painful experience. 

Never again. 

I want plain old simple honesty.  I can deal with a little honest pain, but I can't deal with subterfuge.