Loneliness 3

Loneliness Touches Everyone, Sometime

Alone, solitude, isolation and loneliness. These are are words and concepts that are linked together. However, only loneliness is an emotional reaction. The others are a state and may be a deliberate choice. These short chapters show different kinds of loneliness. The subjects may be alone, with a person or in a crowd. They may have brought their loneliness with them or felt it from their immediate situation.

Abandonment Loneliness

A wheelchair is left on the road. Why? The parking space is protected by the sign.

An absent person’s home is a mattress under a bridge. The bridge acts as a funnel. Cars, lorries, pedestrians all pass by. Passersby have their backs to the bed and head for the light.

Social Loneliness

Ever been to a party on your own and you don’t know anybody? You drift around feeling lonely. Other people are having a good time. They heighten your sense of loneliness. Outside you are alone but you feel better. Social loneliness

A young women sits alone in a bar. It is evening and people are out drinking together, having a good time. She drinks alone. Her face reveals how she is feeling.

It is morning. A young man is drinking a beer in a market. He may have gone out for a drink or perhaps he is waiting for someone. In the meantime he remains alone and looks lonely.

A young woman steps out to smoke a cigarette. She glances at two young men who are having a drink. It looks as though she would like to join them. Maybe, maybe not. She remains alone.

Vignette

The message

Despair

Loneliness

Loneliness has many shapes and forms. There will be more.