In the shadows of silence, I walk alone,    
My screams fade into the background, unheard  
I stand like a forgotten book on a shelf,    
Pages frayed, waiting for someone to read.    
Each glance a reminder, each smile a ghost,    
Why does friendship dance just out of reach?    
Beneath this facade of happiness, I tremble,    
Embarrassed to confess this void in my heart.    
Where do the friendships fade, like dusk to night?    
Do they vanish like mist beneath the sun's grasp?    
I seek a soul to share these moments with,    
A bridge across the distance, a hand to hold.    
But the world spins on, indifferent to my plea,    
Fingers outstretched, clutching at glimmers of hope  
What is it that keeps me in this quiet dark?    
Why does the warmth of connection seem so distant?
Are these walls I’ve raised too sturdy, too steep,  
Shielding me from anguish, yet caging my heart?  
If so, I may remain in this still exile,  
Longing for connection, yet trapped by my own design.