Heavy in the air…

It all began with a shrouded whisper. Traveling person by person—spreading through crowded rooms like an airborne virus. And, as with most gossip, once it was spoken into the air it was carried with the heat of breaths and became stronger—speculation turning into fact. He heard them speaking and began to believe their words. They spoke with such conviction, as if they had witnessed the scene with their own eyes. However, as a pragmatist he could never believe without seeing the evidence laid out in front of him, and no one he asked could place their hands on anything concrete. He knew the truth and so did the masses huddled in their cliques. If they searched themselves, they would surely feel it. In the same way lies don’t settle right on an honest stomach. But, it gave them something to whisper about—and people like to whisper. They like the way it tickles their mouths.