We weave intricate webs of pretense around ourselves, hiding behind them to escape our true selves. We may feign excessive confidence despite the doubts that plague us, or perpetual joy despite the pain we feel. We may agree with others' opinions even if they contradict our beliefs, or exaggerate our interest in matters that do not concern us. With each new pretense, these threads become more complex, and with every performance, we lose a piece of ourselves, a piece of our sincerity and transparency. We create a parallel universe, a world of illusions and deceit, and forget our authentic selves, the ones that fear, suffer, cry, and dream.