Telling the Truth
    
No one was awake when Drea was abducted by a dragon—no one, except me. I gazed at the midnight sky, hoping to wish on a star, when a giant shadow in the shape of a dragon loomed over me. Dragons, I thought. I remember the Council saying that Arcemire was well-protected and we’d never see dragons here. I heard a scream, and in the morning, Drea was gone.

I gathered with the townspeople as the Council members stood in the town square. One of them began to speak. “Citizens, I am sure you are all concerned with the mysterious disappearance of Drea, a dear neighbor. We assure you that she merely ran off, unable to bear the responsibilities of being a proud member of this community.”

“I thought I heard a scream at night,” someone said.

“It was a barn owl, I assure you,” the Council member replied. “You may hear of beasts and dragons in the lands outside, but I know this: There are no dangers in Arcemire.”

“There are no dangers in Arcemire,” the crowd chanted.

I felt bewildered at the blatant lie the Council was telling. The Council was likely afraid that the townspeople would leave if they heard that a dragon captured a fellow neighbor. However, I remember my parents saying to always tell the truth. If the townspeople didn’t know the truth, their lives could be in peril if another dragon came by.

Despite being afraid of what the Council might do, I opened my mouth and spoke the truth. “There are dangers in Arcemire. I saw a dragon capture Drea at night.”

Confused voices echoed around the crowd, but the Council member spoke again. “I assure you, there are no dragons.”

However, another Council member whispered something to the others, before saying, “I believe you. This wasn’t the first time either. It’s time we tell the truth as well—indeed, Arcemire isn’t safe anymore. And we need to rescue Drea.”

And from then, I knew—even if the truth is difficult to tell, it is important to still say it, nonetheless.