“Loneliness is like starvation: you don’t realize how hungry you are until you begin to eat.”

–Joyce Carol Oats, Faithless

She was born alone; suddenly waking in darkness with no noise. She had always been like this until they showed up. Loud and bright, laughing and singing. They were afraid of her at first, but she found that she couldn’t help but feel drawn to them, to love them. They asked her about her parents and she had no answer. They asked her how she came to be, and she didn’t know, so they told her their stories instead so that she could have something, and when they must journey on, they ask her to join, but she is unsure if she can leave.