What if humans couldn't lie

What if humans couldn't lie?

I was struggling to open my eyes when the alarm went off— or at least, I think it went off.

It was 5.30 am, my eyes glued shut filled with eye gunk, swollen, and heavy with sleepiness. My body almost paralysed and sunken into the mattress with heavy legs and stiff joints from running the night before.

I woke up like everyday and began my morning routine.

I sit up on the side of the bed and drink my large glass of filtered water already prepared. I stand up, go to my yoga mat symmetrically placed in front of the bed, where I begin my morning stretch with intention, calmness and precision. These stretches, recommended from almost all my coaches, are essential to start my long day of training. I begin with my neck and then work my way downwards till my pinky ! It takes me exactly 10 minutes, which is relatively a long stretch from the 30 minutes that used to ruin the rest of my program, but I've become more mobile and efficient which is awesome !

Anyways, after my yoga/strerching session, I proceed to the bathroom brush my teeth and do some other stuff, no need for details here....

then I head out, get into my cold plunge, which feels so meditative and mind altering that it sets up the rest of my waking hours. This part of my day is always so serene no matter the weather.

In winters, the atmosphere is calm and immersive, it helps me focus on my goals and aspirations. The crisp air, going through my nose, leaves its tip in an almost frozen state. you can see it coming out with every exhale forming a smoke like dancing wave of water vapour. I sit in the tub – in my mind at least –meditate through the silence that is only broken by the gentle sound of pigeons calling on one another or the splashes of water swooshing around in my cold bucket.

Summertime is different, it's always lively despite the silent atmosphere. The air, changes into an immersive warmth overpowered with the smells of blossoming flowers and ripe fruit. The pigeons are joined by a few other birds, each singing their own song in a never ending competition. Somehow, we never take the time to enjoy this intricate orchestral band playing at our windows.

After the refreshment, I'm now ready for my coffee. I'm a coffee nerd that takes things so seriously, it's a hobby that fills my heart with passion and love. I grind the coffee beans fresh, I weigh them by the gram, eighteen to be exact. I grind them and let the aroma rise into the house and find its way into my nostrils! What a smell !! The mix of coffee, the brisk burn of dawn and the fresh smell of icy water dripping from my hair onto my skin is unmatched. It really is the simplest things in life!

After brewing, I pull out my espresso shot and drink it while evaluating my sleep stats. Then, I prepare a quick pre workout shake and it's time for my morning run.

It's almost 6.30 now, the sun is rising and the weather is warmer, I run for an hour watching the sun rise, contemplating life and struggling to work through my workout goals.

After the run i come back home, prepare a big meal and devour it like a hungry wolf.

By 9 a.m., I’m at the hospital. Most days, it’s two or three spine surgeries, finishing around six in the evening.

I meet up with my coach, eat a healthy bowl to fuel me through the next 2 workouts, curated to meet my goals for a sub 9 hour ironman in 3 months.

We usually alternate between gym , swim or bike sessions according to the program.

I finish my workouts and head back home, and go straight to bed after this marvellous long day.

At bed time i like to wind down by reading, i open my tablet and begin to read; what if humans couldn't lie?

What a question? It would mean telling the truth !

The truth?

The truth is i'm not reading on my tablet. The truth is that this question came up on the tv situated away enough from my bed that i never need to flex my neck trying to see it, as if i could...

The truth is i never left my bed today. in fact, i only leave bed once a day, when the nurse comes to change my diapers and wash the sheets.

Sometimes she forgets and i remain swimming in my own waste for days, but it's okay, why would she remember? I'm just a paralysed man ! I've been in this state for years.

I wish i could wake up early and go for a run, i wish i knew the days that passed, or at least know what time of day it is. Being a prisoner in this small isolated window-less room, i lost my clock, i lost my days, even though they were already taken from me.

I'm in the far east corner of the hospital, strategically put away from the rest of the patients, left to slowly decay and accumulate dust.

If i couldn't lie, I wouldn't be able to dream.

I live in a new reality now, a reality forged and curated to lift my consciousness far away.

I live as a spine surgeon now, dedicated to save people like me everyday and determined to appreciate every single moment of movement.

A character that is active and appreciative of the nature and beauty life has to offer. A person that can acknowledge and see the small things in life as the blessings they are.

If humans couldn't lie, does that mean i lose this fantasy? This dream that keeps me alive.

Where is the line between lying and dreaming?

Is sharing a dream considered as sharing a lie?

Are they just different sides of the same coin or is it just a theory of a forgotten paralysed man sitting in the corner of the hospital left to rot?

Are these my thoughts? Or am i just hallucinating? A way for my poor body to help me fight through its final breaths. Am i dead? I guess i will never know until the nurse remembers me and comes through.