I have everything I once believed would make life feel whole: a loving family, dependable friends, financial stability, my own apartment, and a car that starts every morning. My closets hold more clothes and shoes than I need. The fridge is full. These are countless people can only dream of. And yet, I am lonely. Nationwide, that loneliness is not unusual. A from 2022 showed nearly 40% of adults experience moderate to severe loneliness. Proof that material comfort doesn't guarantee emotional connection.
"The thing is," he said, "I can't think about buying a mattress with you because, right now, I can't visualize our future." He explained that while intellectually he knew he loved me, when he looked at me, he felt dead inside. "It's not just you," he added, as if to soften the blow, before explaining that he felt emotionally numb and disconnected from life in general.