Alone

Alone, terribly alone.
A word I could never emit.
A word that nagged at my conscience
until I could bring myself to write it on paper,
and even then it was erased.
I always thought being alone was impossible
with so many people who cared.
But who asked that single question?
The one that struck fear in anyone who dared ask it?
"Are you okay?"
Of course I refused to tell the truth.
I would say "Of course, I'm fine."
while waiting for that person who would go the extra mile.
The one who would notice the tear running down my cheek
as "fine" is uttered from my lips and say to me
"You're not fine, what's wrong?"
But I guess that is too much to ask.