Copyright J Hardy
Jim stares blankly at the woman on his sofa.
“So someone will visit every week, there’ll be social clubs, theatre visits and group outings with people in the same position as yourself. How does that sound?”
Jim strokes his chin, pondering.
“Like hell on earth,” he says.
“But you said you were lonely?”
Jim is lonely … for his wife and siblings long dead… for his daughters on the other side of the world… and for his cat, who’s gone missing again.
But his loneliness isn’t a pit to be filled with strangers.
How can he make her understand that?
More of a vignette than a story arc today, after reading the mixed reaction to the appointment of a Minister for Loneliness. Rochelle, however continues her ministrations for the Friday Fictioneers group in fine form. Thank you, Rochelle.
castelsarrasin 
They do say strangers are just friends we haven’t met yet. Though, of course, the people who say this obviously haven’t met some of the stranger strangers. Interesting piece, Sandra
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🙂 Yeah, in a pollyanna kind of world, they are. I thought you qualified that nicely.
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I think you nailed it Sandra. You can fill in time but you can’t fill the void left by ones that you love that are no longer with you or accessible to you.
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I don’t know what the answer is, though. I wouldn’t want that job, Minister for Loneliness for all the tea in China. Thanks for reading, Irene.
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The void left by loved ones cannot be filled completely. One can try, though.
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One either tries, or one just accepts it. Thanks for reading.
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That’s really great Sandra – Profound enough without further comment…
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Thanks, Martin.
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The pacing of this story is excellent. You contrast the organised, pre-planned speech of the care-worker with the hesitant voice of Jim, who is working it out as he speaks. It’s a good way of differentiating between their voices, but more importantly it conveys a great deal about their characters.
Nice writing, Sandra.
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Thanks Penny. You always seem to ‘get’ what I’m trying to do. Thanks for visiting.
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Dear Sandra,
You can’t fill the pit of loneliness with strangers. Profound and truer words were never spoken. Well done. Like this should surprise me? 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Aww, thanks Rochelle. And thanks for visiting and commenting. I don’t know how you manage to get round to so many sites. Have a good day!
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It is possible to be lonely while surrounded by people, a fact that seems to be lost on many. Nicely put Sandra.
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Some of my loneliest moments have been in a crowded room. Thanks for reading, Iain.
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Oh, well done! I’m reaching an age when so many of my contemporaries are finding themselves in this lonely place. You captured it perfectly.
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Yes, I’ve got several friends of have found themselves in that situation. What’s surprised me is how well some of them have adjusted to it. There’s hope for some! 🙂
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I have heard it said that a bore is a person who deprives you of solitude without providing you with company. This is a good case for that. Well written!
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Oooh, I like that. Now that’s profound. Thank you.
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My Mom is lonely for my Dad, but fortunately in her case, she’s got friends in the area and at her church.
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That’s good then. Thanks for visiting, James.
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It’s either strangers or nobody. Sad.
Click to read my FriFic!
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Nobody will do it for me, I think. 😉
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A wonderfully told tale Sandra and so full of truths.
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Thanks Mike.
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This is so good, Sandra. You can’t fill that void of loneliness with strangers, you can only distract yourself from your loneliness for a while and hope some of the strangers become friends. So very sad
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Yes, whatever, it’s going to be a compromise. Though I think that forcing yourself to go through the motions of re-engaging can sometimes only underscore the problem. Thanks for reading, Lynn.
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My pleasure Sandra
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Loved this story. Sad but so believable and true to life. Well done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you, Susan.
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Such a sad tale, beautifully told. I think I’ve experienced some on my loneliest moments when surrounded by people.
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As have I. But that’s the time to turn the socialisation into an observational exercise. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Well written and realistic. It may be that Jim has a touch of self-pity, but we can allow him that. It is sad to lose everyone you have a bond with. I think he needs another cat, or better yet, a dog. 🙂
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I’d go for the cat option, though we’ve had dogs and it was a joyous experience. I just find cats a bit more self-reliant, I worry less about them. 🙂
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So well written. I feel for him.
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Thanks for reading.
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I so hope that I still can find new friends… and everyone is a stranger at first. It’s just that it has to be right kind of stranger.
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So true, Bjorn. Thanks for visiting.
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A heart-wrenching tale, and very true. Having ‘fun’ forced on me for the sake of company would be hell on earth. I’d rather embrace the void – and sometimes beautiful, meaningful and unexpected friendships can grow in that void.
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You’re so right, Siobhan. The best relationships are cultivated by accident or incident, and rarely by design, or so it’s seemed to me. Thanks for reading.
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At the end of the day there really is nothing like family.
Thanks for the reminder.
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My pleasure, Dawn.
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You do manage to get so much out of your 100 words! Lonely cannot be filled by things – at least not until the person wants to
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Thanks Dale. And you’re so right.
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😊
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What time is it where you are?
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3:37 a.m…. Been trying to fall back asleep since something wokr me
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Oops! Sorry… Since something (someone?) woke me up at 2:45!
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I thought you were being an early bird! Or else I hadn’t got the hang of this time-zone thing. 🙂 Get back to sleep!
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I did! After I read two chapters in a book! We have a good 5 hours between us (Sarah and I do so I figure it’s at least the same for you and I!)
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Nicely captures the longing for the (irreplaceable) ones we love.
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Thanks, Karen.
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But his loneliness isn’t a pit to be filled with strangers Oh! What a lovely line. You really caught the loneliness one feels when all the special people are gone or far, far away.
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Thanks Alicia, glad you liked it.
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‘But his loneliness isn’t a pit to be filled with strangers.’. What a truly magnificent line !
Great story, Sandra.
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Thank you Moon.
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I kind of appreciate the concept of a ‘loneliness filler’, but doing it through a Ministry, with its accompanying bureaucracy and impersonal, mechanical approach seems to be a recipe for disaster. Great story.
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We’ll have to see how it pans out. Sometimes I wonder whether the need to be seen to be doing something outstrips the requirement to do it well. Thanks for reading.
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Strangers can’t replace those you’ve lost, but maybe if he gives it a try he’ll be pleasantly surprised. Nice one!
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I loved the unique take on the prompt, Sandra! I loved the timing….appointment of the Minister for Loneliness and this profound lil tale. There are some voids that cannot be filled ….ever. However, I genuinely believe that loneliness can be cured….:) Keep writing! Cheers!
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Thank you Tina.
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“It’s far better to be alone than to be in bad company.” – Geo. Washington
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I know there are people who are genuinely lonely, and my heart goes out to them, but the picture you paint here is all too close to what an interfering society can do. I relish my all-too-rare alone time.
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Same here, Liz.
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So very hard. At least l hope his cat comes back!
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They usually do. 🙂
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I just… hmmmm, words are failing me at the moment. This is a very moving piece. There’s more to say, it just won’t be coherent today, sorry.
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Such a sad story but so beautifully told.
I wonder if you call Minister for Loneliness’s office and when they put you on hold, the background music is Eleanor Rigby?
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Good one!
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I echo many others by saying that line really struck me — that loneliness is not a pit to be filled with strangers — poetic. And I also hope that he opens his heart and lets some of those strangers become new friends. The older you get, the more of those you need, as the old ones have a tendency to leave you, one way or another.
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So very true, Joy. Thanks for reading.
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This is a beautiful piece, so nicely written. It is a quandary, as we get older we lose people dear to us and at the same time are less willing or able to make new friendships. This leads to such loneliness.
I enjoyed your story!
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Thank you, Brenda.
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‘a pit to be filled with strangers’… nice line.
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Thanks Ted.
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Being alone may be the #1 fear. Loved the setting, and true words.
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Thanks for reading, Dan.
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Lovely. So sad and so true. It’s difficult to understand someone else’s loneliness and it’s so hard to fill…
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Loneliness takes many forms. Thanks for reading, Luccia.
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This is so poignant and genuine Sandra. Your wisdom shines through your writing as always. Just lovely.
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I wish I were wise, Anna. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Very poignant. Well done, Sandra.
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Thank you, Sascha.
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i guess it’s his call to live the way he wants. so be it.
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Jim has a sentiment that is so simple but that people often don’t get! Good job in expressing it!
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Many thanks!
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Ouch. This has such punch. Loneliness isn’t the one size fits all issue we imagine it to be, as your story so amply illustrates. Have you sent this to Tracey Crouch to help her in her work? 🙂
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Now there’s a woman with her work cut out! 🙂
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I understand that perfectly. We develop habits and rhythms to our life as we age. A visit from a visiting nurse once in a while might be good but constant activity could be an overload. Good writing as usual, Sandra. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you Suzanne.
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Lovely. A salutary tale for all.
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Thank you, Patrick.
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People doesn’t always equal company, and loneliness doesn’t always mean being alone. Nicely and sympathetically told Sandra
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So true. Thanks for reading.
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