The Unknown and Lying Scares People

the truth is a drunk in the corner nobody wants to look at because he’s missing teeth and smells like the gutter. people like their stories neat— swept floors, white smiles, the lie folded in like sugar in coffee. you tell them the world is falling apart and they’ll laugh until the ceiling drops on their heads. the unknown sits outside the door in the rain, smoking a bent cigarette. most folks would rather pretend they never heard the knock.