An Imperfect Lie by Hussain Zafar

The Imperfect Lie is a haunting novella that explores the inner turmoil of Alex, a 17-year-old boy who lives a life of outward perfection, yet is internally consumed by pain, betrayal, and isolation. Behind the luxurious walls of his family’s mansion, Alex hides from the world’s expectations and the horrors of his past. Bullied relentlessly at school, neglected by a cold father, and deeply scarred by the shocking revelation about his mother, Alex’s world spirals out of control. When a violent act shatters his life, he runs, hoping to escape the ghosts of his past. On his journey, Alex crosses paths with a stranger who makes him question his own reality, yet the darkness within him remains, threatening to overtake everything he once knew. The Imperfect Lie is a powerful exploration of identity, the search for self-worth, and the harrowing consequences of living behind a mask of perfection, all while asking: how far can a person be pushed before they are consumed by their own darkness?