Loneliness can be a harrowing experience, but the feeling of being lonely despite being surrounded by people is a terror beyond words. One moment, you could be engrossed in conversation and laughter; the next, a sense of isolation creeps over you like a sinister cloud. You try to fit in, to blend seamlessly with different personalities. Still, it only leads you further away from your true self, assuming you even know who that is. Accepting your fate doesn’t soothe your restless mind, for fear of being trapped in this state for eternity is like a never-ending nightmare. A companion to share your moments with is a rare and precious gift, yet you remain deprived. A confidant, someone to talk to about anything and everything, seems like a distant dream. Perhaps you haven’t found one yet, or maybe you don’t have the courage to make one. Life seems like a merciless journey for you, one that offers no respite. You cling to the hope of a silver lining somewhere, but it remains elusive, just out of reach.