Loneliness isn’t always about silence. Sometimes, it screams within, demanding the emptiness be filled. When faced with rejection, a desire arises to prove to yourself and the world that you have worth. New encounters, lighthearted conversations, the feeling of someone’s interest — it all seems like salvation. But is it really?

But over time realization dawns: no meeting can replace the ability to be alone with yourself. Inner emptiness cannot be filled by anyone else. It’s a lesson that is difficult but necessary. Once we learn to find harmony within, we stop chasing it in fleeting sparks and begin building something real.

Every new smile or brief dialogue brings a fleeting surge of emotion, an illusion of warmth. We seek it more and more, as if trying to escape ourselves. The more superficial the connection, the less risk there is of pain — but also, the less joy. A simple interaction feels enough to quiet the loneliness, if only for a moment.