I can say lots of things I don't mean. I can lie at the drop of a hat. I can stretch the truth, and I don't think twice about playing dumb. All of my life that's all I've down, lie to make myself seem like this perfect person, this perfect, beautiful girl. I'm not at all perfect, but they expect me to be. So I lie some more, and I lie so much I don't even know where Glinda the Girl ends and Glinda the Good begins. Sometimes I lie to myself, and I have no idea what I want.
I can say I'm sorry when I don't mean it. I can say it when I've done or said something improper. I don't feel it, but it erases my mistake. An apology, genuine or not goes a long way to soothe hurt feelings. I'm sorry I forgot your birthday, Mom. I'm sorry I lost your new hat. I'm sorry I borrowed your new blouse without asking. No I'm not, but I can say I'm sorry.
I can tell people what they need to hear to make them feel better. Little white lies meant to ease pain. No, the dress doesn't make your arms look fat. No, it wasn't your fault, it could've happened to anyone. Don't worry, she overreacted. He just wasn't the one, you deserve better than him.
I can say thank you when people give me things I don't want, and will never use. Flowers from the boy I will never date. Chocolates that I will not eat for fear of ruining my figure. I can say thank you for a kind deed I didn't want you to do. Like when the young gentleman takes my bags for me when I was willing to carry them myself. I am not as vain or as delicate as I may seem.
I can tell people I will write back soon when I never will. I can claim to want someone to come over for lunch, when I hope to never see them again. I can say I want to marry well and do good throughout Oz, and never think for myself.
I can say all of those lies so easily, but what I cannot say is the truth. I cannot tell you I love you, no matter how much I wish to. Because lies are easy, and pretty, and calm. The truth hurts, no matter how I wish I could tell it.