Dear Diary - Rashomon's Legacy

[Shocker]

Congratulation Claire , to a well deserved victory among a strong field of entries.

[Claire]

Seems like the community is split when it comes to lying or truth telling in this situation! I had no idea how this poll would go, but I enjoy the 50:50 split so far. I wondered whether I would nudge the reader towards lying because I end the story with Frank's reasoning for lying, but I couldn't have him make a different decision. The story simply wouldn't work if he had told the truth because then chapter 2 would have revealed everything already.

Lying seems natural in this situation... almost wrote 'in a situation like this', but thankfully few of them are similar enough to draw a general rule. Not 'traumatiz[ing] her potentially for years to come' outweighs any burden of silence. It's not too hard, I think -- hell, I myself have a few secrets I'm not going to disclose! Not that anyone cares either way.

"Not that anyone cares" he says... you are a little tease, aren't you? You got this nosy girl curious about your secrets. I wonder whether this is a bigger secret than your dark past as a writer of Lara Croft fanfiction!

Oh this was great! The plot twist is diabolically brilliant and I like the moral quandary at the end (but it should be obvious: don't tell her). I was wondering how you'd make four POVs work and have each advance the story and be surprising, but you did it beautifully.

Thanks for the praise, much appreciated. In case you haven't yet, consider voting in the poll!

You have great storytelling talent.

High praise from our community's most famous author, thanks!

@R.R.Ryan and @Shocker: Thank you both!