Embracing Solitude

The night was deepening, and the moonlight streaming through the window cast a mysterious glow on the floor. The silence was only broken by the ticking of the wall clock. Tithi lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. It felt as if she were trapped in an endless void.

Tithi had always been alone. Her parents were both busy with their work. After coming home from school, she spent her afternoons in solitude—playing by herself, reading storybooks, or gazing out the window, lost in thought. As she grew older, she realized that loneliness had become an inseparable part of her life.

When she started university, Tithi hoped that new friendships would help her escape the emptiness she felt inside. There were friends, laughter, and endless conversations, yet the loneliness never truly faded. Instead, it became more pronounced. She had become accustomed to being alone.

One evening, after leaving the campus library, Tithi sat on a bench in the park. Around her, people were laughing, chatting, taking pictures, and soaking in the golden sunlight. She watched them all in silence.

Suddenly, an elderly man sat beside her.

“I’ve been watching you for a while, my dear. Are you lost in thought?” His voice was gentle.

Tithi smiled faintly. “No, just sitting here.”

“Do you like being alone?”

She was taken aback by the directness of his question. No one had ever asked her that before. After a brief pause, she replied, “I’ve been alone since childhood. It feels normal now.”

The old man smiled. “You know, dear, loneliness comes into everyone’s life in some form. Some choose it, while others are forced into it by circumstances. But even in solitude, there is much to learn.”

Tithi remained silent, but his words lingered in her mind. Had she truly embraced loneliness, or had it been imposed upon her?

That night, standing in front of the mirror, she stared into her own eyes. Was loneliness her weakness, or her strength? She didn’t know the answer. But over the next few days, she made a decision.

She started engaging herself in old hobbies—painting, writing, photography. Gradually, she found joy even in her solitude. One day, she realized that being alone wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It was an opportunity to discover herself.

From then on, loneliness no longer tormented her. Instead, it became a doorway to self-exploration. She finally understood that being alone could be a kind of strength.

The night deepened. The moonlight still poured through the window, casting its silver glow on the floor. Tithi lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. But tonight, she no longer felt empty.