He felt as if he were inhaling silence as the quietness swallowed him.
Usually, this was the moment he cherished—the peace, the stillness. But now, it felt empty.
Echoes of laughter and scattered fragments of memories whimpered in the hollow aftermath of a festival once grand in its majesty.
What was celebration without someone to share it with? Peace was no longer a gift, but a lingering reminder of his loneliness.
This piece is written in response to the two hundredth and fortieth edition of Fiction Monday inspired by the word prompt – FESTIVAL hosted by yours truly. Do join in if you have a tale to tell.
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Void Thoughts 
There’s a fine line between solitude and loneliness. Sometimes we forget that they don’t feel the same. Wonderful
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solitude can so easily turn into loneliness sometimes. You’ve captured this so well with such a few words!
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This is beautiful. You have a way with words that brings your writing to life.
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You created a story so hauntingly painful and real at the same time! Very moving and very beautifully crafted, Vinitha.
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This is something I can completely identify with. Only one’s state of mind decides whether one is enjoying solitude or is engulfed by loneliness. I’ve been at both places so now I simply work on keeping myself anxiety free.
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This beautifully captures how silence can shift from peaceful to lonely, a feeling many experience after moments of joy fade. Your words make the emptiness feel real and heartfelt. Loved it, Vinitha!
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So true. I remember reading about an elderly man in the UK who craved for company over the Christmas holidays. Some kind soul shared his address and thousands of us sent him Christmas cards. Hopefully, it made him feel less lonely.
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Not sure why I don’t sign in to comment. Sorry.
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That’s okay, Corinne. I’ve been receiving a lot of anonymous comments lately—I’m not sure why. It’s probably a good idea to always end our comments with our name, just in case.
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That’s a beautiful gesture, Corinne. I see lots of lonely old people here too. They love any excuse to talk to others while shopping. Loneliness is a difficult place to be.
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🤎💯
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Thank you, Shreya.
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