Lonely

One of my greatest fears
is being lonely.
To have no one 
who understands me,
or to listen as I 
ponder my deepest thoughts.
I am lucky. 
My friends know me.
even if they do not understand
my words, they're always there
to listen.
Yet
the dark has always
made me feel alone.
It's so isolating,
s e p a r a t i n g  people,
leaving them wondering blindly
where the world went.
One of my worst nightmares 
is being trapped in a dark room,
with no sound but the deafening silence
surrounding me.
The walls close in.
I struggle to breath,
drowning in the darkness—
my fingertips grab desperately
in open air,
and I yearn to make a sound,
any sound, 
to bring sweet relief to my ears,
yet the darkness is too overpowering
and whisks my words away
as soon as they form.
Please don't misunderstand me
and conclude that I'm afraid
of being alone.
Solitude can be liberating,
a chance to catch up with yourself:
read a book,
write a poem,
dance to your favorite song
because no one is watching.
Loneliness is very different.
Loneliness is when
you offer a word to the world
and no one answers.
Loneliness is when
you're bursting with things to say
yet no one's there to listen.
Loneliness is when
you long for a friend
but no one takes your outstretched hand.
I've moved twice—I know what it feels like.
Even thieves need a partner in crime
(though I don't support using friendship for theft).
Loneliness is something
I would never wish on anyone,
no matter the morality of their actions.
So when someone says even a simple "hello" 
in the hallway at school,
or asks about someone's day,
or compliments them,
it can make all the difference.