Untitled AI art by @candid-shore4

What happened to deep connection? To conversations that actually mean something? Why does everything feel so surface-level? People move through life like zombies – trapped in tunnel vision, consumed by a world that isn't even real. And the worst part? They don't even know it. It's isolating. It's exhausting. That feeling of being completely alone, even when you're surrounded by people. The craving to escape but having nowhere to go. The ache to talk to someone - anyone - who is conscious and aware. Someone who's here. Present. What happened to real relationships? To friendships that held weight? To loyalty, protection, wisdom, and guidance from family and elders? To empathy, love and compassion? To real connection - not just small talk or fake smiles, but that kind of connection that makes you feel seen, understood, safe? And when I try to talk about it, no one understands. No one even tries to. Blank stares. Dismissive replies. They retreat back into their fake realities, eyes glued to glowing screens, scrolling their lives away. Like I never even said anything. Hello? Are you even here?! So I silence myself. Numb how I feel. But my soul won't quiet down. It's starving. Starving for truth. For wisdom. For something real. I tell myself to stop. To let it go. But then I fall down another rabbit hole, searching for answers. And every time, I come back more disillusioned - realizing once again that everything I was taught to believe... about life, the world, and myself - was a lie. And the worst part? There's no one to talk to about it. So I write. Because if I don't, I might actually lose my mind. This human experience is draining. And what makes it worse is knowing - we're doing this to ourselves. Where is all of this going? Where am I in all of this? Because I don't want to be here - not like this. And I don't want my children, or their children, to inherit this world. Not this version of it. For too many years, I've lived like this. Searching. Waiting. Wondering if there's anyone out there who feels the same. Because I can't be the only one..