Lies

We believed her, at first: that dolphins were witches' creatures, unlucky to see; that to watch a sunset meant death by morning. We accepted that the beauty of a flower was in proportion to its toxicity, and that the same was true of the laughter of friends. But she pushed beyond her strength. She said that wholesome food and dreams should both be bitter, and brewed tea that fulfilled both oughts. We could not swallow it. We opened.