Today he returned.

He sat down across from me and apologized for disappearing for the past few days.

"It's alright." I told him, not bothering to ask for an explanation as I stared blankly down at the wooden table top.

He asked if I was okay and leaned forward in his seat.

I assured him that I was and he dropped the topic.

I wondered why I thought it wasn't okay to lie to myself, but was okay to lie to others.