the shocking truth
the terrible truth
the sad truth

The terrible truth was that he wanted to be back on the ship.

She had heard the terrible truth: Her husband was not coming back.

On no account must she even guess the terrible truth.

Those who do look it up will discover the terrible truth.

Like the terrible full truth of why he was doing this.

But how could she tell the children the one, terrible truth?

Mother would have to reveal the terrible truth to the children.

Yet another part of his mind knew the terrible truth.

They didn't know that a terrible truth was about to be revealed.

For the first time in the whole game, I was hit over the head by a terrible truth.