Illusions

I look around the classroom

and see others’ faces. Some smile,

some purse their lips in acknowledgement. Pleasant enough. ;

But would they listen? Would they care?

Oh, I guess so -- provided it wasn’t deep, personal.

But why do I need help for trivial things?

I’m ALONE, you bastards! j

God, I feel like just screaming out for help -- a hug -- anything.

Uh-oh, no time. Here comes professionalism.... Mask on.

’Uh-hum, Doctor Blimber, would you agree that A should be B?’

*You’re welcome.’

Sigh, I can’t wait to cry again.

(Do you think you’re the only one?)

No ... I guess not.

(So why all this?)

It hurts.

(Aren’t others hurting?)

I don’t know, I can’t see through their masks. (Have you tried to help?) : No, I usually smile or acknowledgement.

(Pleasant enough.)

I try. Now, are you going to help me or what? (Look in the mirror, then drag your river.) Tomorrow.

purse my lips in

ME.

Loneliness and Friends :

Both the short story and the poem talk about loneliness. We are surrounded by friends every day. We talk together, laugh together, and yet we feel so alone in a world full of people. f

Friends, we have so many of them. Some of them are classify as good friends. Whenever we have problems, and when we feel depressed, we go to our friends for comfort, for support. But that doesn’t take our loneliness away. As for other people, we can’t even talk to them because they will put on masks to hide their true selves. We accuse people of doing that, but we put up facades ourselves too.

There is a barrier between our friends and ourselves. Perhaps we don’t trust each other enough to open up. Maybe we are afraid of getting hurt if we show our vulnerabilities to them. Whatever that barrier is between us and our friends, it is causing us a deep and unspoken pain.

Loneliness is one of the most painful of experiences. We live our lives not knowing what we can do to ease Ourselves of this pain. Most people think that there are no solutions to this problem, but there are always ways of lessening the pain. We can lend a listening ear, have trust and faith in our friends, and love them for who they are.

If- you are able to relate to loneliness and friends, or if you have other types of experiences, you are

‘welcome to submit your creative works about your

particular aspects of life, since we have to live and deal with life. Your stories should approximately be 1000 words maximum in length. For legal reasons, you must tell me your name and state if you wish to remain anonymous. You can send your submissions through the Vax account to GEM, or you can drop by our office down in Main Building and give them to me. Here’s to a new beginning!

Kheng-Wee Fiction Editor.

October 12, 1990

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