and there is only one.

sometimes i feel lonely
even when i am not by myself,
when i am standing amidst a group
of people,
the chatter, the din, the racket and
ruckus silences me
makes me feel small
and of no consequence.

so i shrink further back
into my shell...pulling my legs
and arms back in
before anyone could have
even noticed they were out...

closing my eyes, imagining myself
anywhere else
but here
amongst friends
and sometimes family...

sometimes i am just lonely.
overwhelmingly
surprisingly
quietly
awkwardly
tiredly
full of emptiness.