I shared with Zoya that pretending to be someone you're not can sometimes be beneficial, even if it’s not clear whether such imitation is truly flattering. We anticipated congratulating a person, and I reflected on the complexity of identity and deception in that moment.
Zoya was surprised by my admission and responded affirmatively, revealing that she had indeed engaged in such pretense herself. This exchange highlights themes of impersonation and understanding hidden truths behind facades in the story “The House of Special Purpose” by John Boyne.