Page 21 - SurprisingTruthSample

Nicholas Boothman
The speaker sprang to life, the boss’s voice giddy.
“Henry, you’re a legend. The stock is already back in
the green. The board is sending a ridiculous gift
basket.”
Henry didn’t dignify it with a reply. He reached out
and slapped the mute button. He looked out at the city,
drowning in the ugly orange sunset, an endless ocean
of humanity built on a foundation of professional lies.
He wasn’t tired of his job anymore; he was sick to
death of the whole damn thing.
The thought settled on him, clear and sharp as a
surgeon’s knife: I can’t do this one more time.
He looked at the screens, the digital trophy of his
brilliance. It wasn’t a victory; it was just proof that the
cycle of deceit was unbreakable. He had spent his life
protecting the lies. Now, he felt only the violent,
sudden urge to burn it all down.
He grabbed his worn leather jacket, leaving the
power button alone. He wouldn't shut down the
screens. He would just walk away, leave the
comfortable office, and vanish into the city he had just
betrayed. He didn’t have a plan. He just knew the
architect of the illusion had to become the
revolutionary who smashed the mirror.
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