Work Mode On?

I felt lonely when- I was in office, in a meeting, talking to collegues.

I’m not great at talking to people. Small talk, jokes, casual chats—I just never know what to say. At work, it’s even harder. My coworkers laugh and chat, swapping stories and making plans to grab coffee or lunch together. I watch them sometimes, wondering how it all comes so easily to them.

When I try to join in, I feel clumsy, like I’m stumbling over my own words. I say something, but it comes out wrong, or the conversation moves on too quickly. People don’t mean to ignore me, I think, but it feels that way. They’ll nod, smile politely, then go back to their conversation.

Most days, I just keep to myself. I sit at my desk, doing my work, watching the others laugh from a distance. I wish I could be a part of it, but I feel like an outsider, awkward and out of place. It’s lonely, knowing they don’t see me the way they see each other—as a friend.