WEIGHT OF TRUTH

In the silence between two heartbeats,

Truth waits, not loud, not soft, just there.

A stubborn presence in a world fluent in half-truths and polished lies.

In Lagos traffic, we lie with ease,

“I’m five minutes away,”

yet we’re still at Ojuelegba.

In family meetings, we mask wounds with smiles,

hide abuse under it’s well,

drown secrets in respect for elders

who never earned it.

But truth…
Truth is a fire.
It burns through illusion,
tears down castles made of convenience.
It doesn\’t bend to feelings.
It doesn\’t care for reputation.
It is the Truth.

Lying feels light, until it piles.
One white lie,
One dodged question,
One fake smile,
and suddenly you forget who you are.
You question your own memory.
Was I really happy?
Did I really say that?
Is this me… or the version I created for likes and validation?

In Nigeria, we wear masks to survive.
Corporate masks. Church masks. Family masks.
But at night, when NEPA takes light
and it\’s just you, your thoughts, and a buzzing mosquito,
the lies hum louder than the fan you wish was on.

Truth is not the enemy.
Shame is.
Fear is.
But truth?
Truth is healing, even when it hurts.
Like bitter leaf, it leaves a sting but purifies.
It may cause you a tear at night, but it\’s gonna bring joy in the morning.

Speak the truth!
About your depression,
About your dreams,
About the things you let slide for love,
The identity you lost in trying to belong.
Speak it even if your voice shakes,
Even if your social media post engagement reduces and the audience walk away,

Because truth attracts those whose souls are ready.
It repels noise, and gathers light.
It may cost you your circle,
but it will return your peace.

To every Nigerian tired of faking it:
You are not alone.
There’s power in honesty.
There’s freedom in clarity.
There’s leadership in vulnerability.

Let truth become your personal brand.
Let it bleed into your relationships,
your Instagram captions,
your morning prayers,
your business proposals,
your marketing strategy.

Let it anchor you
In a culture where \”packaging\” is praised,
be the one who lives free!.

Because in the end,
truth doesn’t shout.
It echoes.

And the soul always remembers the sound.

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John Fadejola