Two Dogs and the Truth

“Between his paws, the black dog held a real bone — earned, heavy, and unquestioned. The brown dog held a piece of thermocol that had no taste, no smell, no meaning. Yet he chewed it with pride, copying not just the act but the dignity. And the moment he felt my gaze, the illusion fell apart. It was as if he suddenly realised he was pretending — and someone had finally seen it.”