Loneliness

This is the most potent emotion I have ever felt.

I’ve been driving for a while now…it’s a weird feeling.  I feel like I'm suffocating.  I've never been someone who needs human interaction at every turn; I actually prefer my own company much of the time.  But this is when I need other people the most.  I need to feel like people care that I exist.  I’m not in a familiar enough place to know of any spots to detour off the highway and say hello to anyone…not only am I alone in this car, but I’m alone in this world.  The place where I feel safe, the people I love, who love me, are all hours behind me.  I've left all that for a less comfortable place.  I’m headed back to where no one is excited for me to arrive; no one is waiting to give me a hug.  It's "home," but it’s not home yet, not even close…should I just turn the car around?  Why am I going back anyway?  I guess I have to...It’s all piling up.  I’ve never experienced such a profoundly debilitating loneliness.  I turn the music up higher to drown out my own thoughts.  I don’t normally cry by myself; I don’t really cry, period.  But, oh god, this song couldn’t have come on at a worse time.  It makes me teary even when I’m not feeling vulnerable.  I try to sing along to stave off the tears, but it triggers the lump in my throat and I overflow.  These earth-shattering sobs are reaching into the depths of my body and I feel sick.  How long do I have to be patient before I finally feel like I belong in the place where I’m going?