“I’m getting married,” she says. I widen my eyes and grasp her hands. “Seriously?!” I shriek, jumping up. She nods and beams. “Yeah! Braxton finally proposed…” At her words my heart sinks. I hadn’t made the connection yet. I try not to let my disappointed feelings show on the outside. “Wow! A wedding,” I say, plastering a fake smile on my face. But her smile falters and she narrows her eyes. “I know you, Erin, don’t try to fool me. What’s wrong?” There are a lot of flaws to the world. One of them being that we can’t lie. “I just was thinking! I want your whole day to be perfect so…” I think. Hard. Harder. Dang it. There’s only one alternative that might spare me from this horrible life-changing confession. “I need to go get your wedding binder!” I exclaim. Anna looks baffled. “Wedding binder? Erin, you didn’t-“ I laugh. “Yes I did! I planned a wedding!” I didn’t plan a wedding for Anna and Braxton. But technically, I didn’t say that. I planned a wedding for me and Braxton. But… it looks like my best friend and the love of my life are getting married. My life is just one big tangled mess. “Aw, Erin! I know what’s nagging you!” I freeze. “You’re worried that I’m not going to love you as much because I’ll be married to the sexiest man alive!” I sigh. “No worries - you’re my best friend! I love you and Braxton equally!” Then let me have him, I think selfishly. I shake the thought out of my head as soon as I think it. No. No, no, no, no, no! Anna deserves a good life more than anyone. All I’ve been is selfish and a bad friend. “That’s a relief,” I tell Anna, hugging her tightly. “I don’t want to lose you, too!” I whisper, tears springing into my eyes. My mother died a few months back, and Anna is the only thing holding me together. Besides Braxton of course, but I can’t let her know that. “Oh, Erin. It’s ok.” She rocks back and forth. “It’s all going to be ok…”

It’s the wedding day. I’m about to hyperventilate in this dress that Anna gave me because I’m the maid of honor. Also I was asked to give a toast. I’m pacing back and forth outside the beach house, where we’re having the wedding, and trying not to cry and smudge my perfect makeup. I hear footsteps descending through the sand and I look up. Great. It’s Braxton. “Hey, Erin!” He sits on a rock near me. “What’s wrong?” I shake my head and look down, continuing to pace frantically. “A lot of things. Way too many things.” “Do you need me to help, or-“ “No, Braxton! You’re the one complicating my life and the last person I need help from right now is you!” After I speak the words I realize they’re messed up. “Oh my gosh, I am so sor-“ “Don’t.” Braxton stands, looking disappointed and curious. He starts to walk away but over his shoulder he calls, “I already know.”

I stand, raising my glass. “Ahem! May I make a toast to… Anna and Braxton, the bride and groom! I just want to say… Anna. You’re my best friend and I am so, so proud of you in everything that you do. I feel like your sister and what I want is for you to be happy.” I turn to Braxton, ready for everything that I’m about to do. “Braxton… I love you. I have always loved you. That is never going to change just because you’re marrying my best friend. But if I’m being honest… I want you two to be happy together.” There’s a silence. A look of horror on Anna’s face. Braxton’s face remains expressionless. Then there’s chaos. Officers storm in, taking me by the arms. “Lying is punishable by death, Miss. Adams,” one of them says in a deep voice. “But- I wasn’t lying! I want them to be happy-“ “Fighting’ll only make it worse.” The last thing I hear before I black out is _____ shouting ‘NO’ and jumping in front of me right before the bullet hits my chest.

Who do you guys think should take the bullet? Braxton or Anna? Comment down below! Also, the names I used in this story are based off of people I know in real life. So thank you!

“I can’t do this speech.” I said. “Why not.” “Because you won’t like what.” I said l getting nervous. “What would you say then, tell me in confidence. No one will know.” “I’m in love with your fiancé.” I blurted out. “What!! You never told me, how did you keep it to yourself.” “Just by not telling anyone.” He walked away after I said that. I was still invited to the wedding, but my other friend gave the speech.

I cannot begin to express how happy I am for the bride and groom; two equally beautiful people. They have both taught me countless things in my time of knowing them, and for that I wish them the best in this venture of their lives.

To start, the groom has given me the gift of patience and fortitude. For years I’ve watched him grow closer to the bride that I love, and for years I’ve endured a painful amount of jealousy because of his relationship with her. But I learned to persist and hide my feelings, which, although pain-cashing, I am eternally grateful for

On the other hand, the bride has shown me a mixture of sadness and hopefulness. I knew from the moment we met that I liked her; her smile brightened my day, and her laugh echoed in my mind hours after hearing it. She brought me so much joy... but I was crushed after hearing she was dating someone. My heart broke more once she and the groom got engaged. Now I’m standing here, alone and heartbroken, but still hanging onto a tiny bit of hope.

Perhaps one day she’ll love me like she loves him, but I doubt that. Until then, congrats to the newlyweds.

[File lost]

... Code 3014 <Retrieve conversation> Signoncode;thetraveler.

.../Retrieving post mortem copy//...

Davy: [unintelligible] what do you mean a lie?

{identity unknown}: Well [brief pause] where I come from, we sometimes make things up. You know?

Davy: No, I don't. {respritory response increase; [Stress- MD] heart rate elevated, eyes abnormally wide}

Davy (cont.): You showed up into my life at three o'clock today. You claimed to be from another dimension. You claimed you could help me. You gave me no mention of your motivations.

{Identity not found}: Yeah well you could say I care about you in a way. {Internal feedback offline; no data found}

Davy: Why would I say that? What would my motivations be? {Homeostasis returned}

{Unknown entity}: Nevermind that. [Brief pause] I can't explain everything to you right now. All I know is that you need to read what I wrote down on this paper during the time where everyone expects you to say YOUR {overannunciation} speech. Okay?

Davy: You are here from another dimension and you only know one thing which is that I NEED {overannunciation} to read this at my best friend's wedding? Am I understanding this correctly?

{Identity... Vacant}: Yes.

Davy: I will do this because I need to, but I have some questions I would like to ask you such as "How can you talk if you only know one thing?" and "Are there dogs in other dimensions?" and "Why me?" In no particular order.

{404.}: [Unintelligible gutteral noise exhaling through the mouth]

Davy: Oh my motivations! Are you alright?

{Anomoly}: [continued exasperated noise sounds until a slow halt ending with a "hah"] Things really are different here. Okay! When this is all over I'll tell you my motivations and why you needed to do this, but it won't be here. I'll have to fill you in after.

Davy: [horror only subsided by subdermal chip] {"fill in" comment disregarded and forgotten} Very well.

{Uncontrolled factor}: [voice frequency lowered] and we'll have to do something about that device.

...//Signal redacted and lost/... .../alarm to proper authorities disabled//...

Would you like to hear the local news regarding day 40037-6? Y/N.

...:"In other news today, the leader of our civilizations son had a extravigant wedding yesterday morning where there was sunlight. The speech given by often third wheeler Davy took a unexpected rout from the norm informing us all of the subtle mind control we are all currently under. Though shocking for 1.37 seconds our artificial intelligence reminded us that everything was normal and homeostasis was achieved. Through being told that Davy is now a criminal, they have searched for the young man but are unable to make a legal arrest as our information tells us he is no longer here. The recent bride and groom had this to say about the whole event..: |{Transmission overridden}|

{Message recieved} That's enough of the past for one day D. We'll be back for them, I promise

End Session Signal<

“What can I say about Agatha and Miguel? Oh, they appear so happy together, and they do indeed make a lovely couple. I knew them from before they knew each other, we were all in class together. I had spoken to Agatha from day one, and I met Miguel afterward. Aye, he was the silent one, wasn’t he? Never spoke a word to Agatha until midterms, when he needed a pen.

Look at them now! So happy, so sweet. From the bottom of my heart of hearts, I wish them everything they deserve.”

Hey, omission is not lying.

Good evening! We all gathered here for the finest reason — at the wedding of our friends Maria and Martin. These two met because of two reasons — I and a lot of alcohol) On a noisy but lonely evening, Martin appeared in my bar, telling him how lonely he was on vacation, since all his friends had arrived with the girls, and he didn’t even fall in love once .. After 3 bottles of beer, Maria appeared on the horizon, who was also on vacation and we met a little earlier. The decision came by itself — I introduced them, and over the next time they were inseparable) Let it sound simple, but it's true — just a person is needed for love!

After the covid-19, the government mutated our genetics in order to eliminate any discrepancy in society— we cannot lie. So I see here today, how mutation may fail, or the mutation can mutate itself, as I stand with my poisoned champagne glass about to give a speech at my best friend’s wedding. Everyone went quiet, odd really, as for the entire evening little chitchat was a must have, especially for the grandmas who love to gossip. The children were already gone, probably to the playground or glued to their phones, so not even their laughter could drown out the sirens in my head. I have to do it. I have to do it. I have to do it. I have to confess to a murder before I do it, no innocent mind will not do it, I have to. “I have known her for some time now, learnt a lot about everything too.” Blink. Don’t forget to blink, and breathe. “I saw her fall in love, many times, with many people, I saw her fall in love with herself, and today we are here to celebrate her falling in love to her.” Here it comes. “And so, to celebrate their story of falling in love, I must confess.” Drink the champagne, don’t forget it takes 15 seconds. “I confess. ” One. Two. Three. “I confess, I confess,” Just say it, just say it. Six. Seven. “that from the moment I met her,” Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. “I fell in love with her.” Fifteen. I confessed.

My best friend and roommate is getting married. I am happy for her but sad for me. I have fallen in love with her fiancé back when he was her new boyfriend. They included me in many of their adventures.

The other problem is the wedding is being held in a small town where it is impossible to lie. Physically impossible. As the Maid of Honor I have to give a toast.

The toast went like this:

“To all of you gathered here to celebrate the newly married couple, I salute you. I have known the bride since we were kids. Our dream was always to be roommates and to never let anything or anyone come between us. The day that our beautiful Jane meet her future husband, I was there by her side. We all three went on their first date. It wasn’t long before Shawn moved in. I will miss you both every hour of every day we are not together. A newlywed couple needs privacy. Our apartment is yours. I love you both with my whole heart. Maybe one of you more than the other. Everyone please toast the bride and groom.”

Hi... ladies and gentlemen. My name is Henry Cummings. And I’m Danny’s, the groom’s best friend and best man. Although if you count the time we experimented in college together, then I’m also his ex-lover... And I wish I didn’t say that... Anyways, I met Danny and Lori in college. Even back then I saw a spark between those two that I kinda envied. Lori was beautiful — much as she looks now. And to find the love of your life at such a young age is nothing short of a miracle. I was jealous of the two of them, ok? So jealous that I slept with Danny to try and break up their relationship... And I wish I hadn’t said that... As I was saying, they were in love at first sight and that’s a beautiful thing... As beautiful as Lori’s round breast and plump butt. Does Danny deserve a woman like that? Huh? I mean, I slept with him on her birthday... And she knew, by the way, and she forgave him almost immediately. How’s that fair?! And he has a hairy back. I mean, really gross. The hair’s as bushy as the hair on the top of his head and it travels from his neck to his butt crack... And his breath — he loves garlic on everything... No, wait! Don’t push me! Let me tell you about his feet... Wait, wait!