There's no doubt that friends are important and that they play vital roles in the lives of those who have them. A good friend, in my opinion, is better than riches, and that's because good friends are rare gems that shape and impact our lives beyond our wildest imagination. However, despite how great friends are, we've come to hear phrases such as "Friends don't lie!" But is that actually true? Do friends not like each other, or is the phrase wrong and just said to sweet-talk friends into looking like saints? In this article I'd be extensively stating my opinion on these and related stuff.
I understand the fact that friends are some of the most honest people we can have around us, because they have the ability to say the truth to us without a filter, making it seem as though they don't care or such things don't hurt us. Take for instance people outside who may be hyping your talent or what you do so they won't hurt your feelings, but a friend will tell you point blank that what you are doing is rubbish. It's not like they want to hurt you; I believe friends just say so you can get better or improve in such a thing. Secondly, they say that so you won't go outside to embarrass yourself and them, because when you embarrass yourself outside, you're indirectly embarrassing your friends as well.
I can vividly remember during my undergraduate days, a friend of mine called me one particular day and sounded somehow; I inquired why she sounded like that, but she said nothing and instead asked about me. Then they went on to ask when I'll be coming home, and I told her I'm currently writing my exam and won't be coming till I'm done with it. She paused for a while before bidding me farewell. A few hours after that, I got a call from my uncle informing me of the passing of my grandmother. I was deeply pained by that information to the point where I couldn't read or retain what I read, but thankfully that phase passes.
After the exam, when I travelled home, I got to know my friend actually called to inform me about the passing of my grandmother, but she opted not to say it again because she knows how much I cherish her and that passing such a message might affect my exam preparation. In the end, I told her that although she lied to me by saying she has nothing else to say when she called and by also saying nothing is wrong with her voice, I understand why she lied and forgive her, because it comes from a place of genuine care and concern.
Like I said above, that friends don't lie is a fallacy; friends do lie to one another. It's just bad when friends just lie to you for their own selfish reasons and for their own personal gain. Friends ought to be truthful to one another, and if at all you'll lie, it should be with a genuine reason. Maybe in a life-and-death situation where the truth at that moment might lead to more heartbreaking consequences and related situations, aside from that, friends should be truthful to each other.
All photos are mine.