A Small Lie I'll Always Remember

I'm in my fifties now, and I've been in an open relationship for a while. We're both happy with the arrangement, but it's not always easy. Today, I want to confess something small but significant from last week. We have this system where we check each other on certain apps to make sure everyone is respecting boundaries. One day, my partner sent me a message asking if I had talked to someone specific. This person isn't really in the picture anymore, and it felt odd bringing them up. So, I lied. I said no contact when there was actually a casual chat. It's not like they're going to come back into my life or anything. It's just this little white lie that feels heavy now. Sometimes, keeping up appearances with people you care about isn't as simple as it seems. This one moment made me realize how far I've drifted from being honest in these small exchanges. It's not a big deal to most people, but it's something I'll always remember and regret just a bit.