What They Don’t Know Won’t Hurt Them, Right?

Imagine you were someone else. Different gender, different name, different lifestyle, different everything.

Now imagine if you introduced this new persona to people who don’t know you very well. You tell them details about your life; little things, so they don’t know too much too soon. You enjoy talking to these people, and they enjoy talking to you too.

Now, what if everything changed? One day, all your friends reveal their true identities and personalities. They get to know each other for who they actually are, and they’re all getting along like they were before.

You’ve come to a tough decision. Should you join them, or remain who they’ve known you as?

Imagine feeling compelled to join the bandwagon. You want them to know the real you. The thought of having real friends is exciting! You can hardly contain your joy!

Unfortunately for you, the demons come crawling out of the recesses of your mind. They tell you all sorts of lies and toy with your mind. They drown whatever excitement there was and replace it with fear. They drag you down into the bottomless pit of insecurities and doubt they live in so they can "take care of you."

In the end, you continue as your fake persona, but add more realistic details. You give your friends fake details about your life. You tell them fake names and fake activities so they can know more about "you". The lies start off small, but as time goes by, they grow bigger and bigger.

Soon enough, you’re orchestrating the fictional life of a person that never existed. You go to great lengths to keep up the ruse, and you’ve succeeded each time. They have no reason to question your idientity. You're too deep in the pit of lies now.

You shouldn't be lying to them, but at this point, what can you do? You can’t tell them the truth. They’d hate you and abandon you, and that terrifies you more than anything else. You’d be alone, sentenced to silence and depression again. They’re the only people you can go to for camaraderie. If you lose that, then you have nothing.

Being someone else is easier, especially over the internet. You can be who you wish to be, and experience how you want others to see you. It may all be a lie, but what they don’t know won’t hurt them, right?