In nights like these, in which the summer warmth coincides with the elegance of the nocturnal breeze, you can’t help but think of all that has happened during the day and wish how things could’ve gone differently. Somewhere in the world, in this overcrowded home of 7 billion people and numerous other inhabitants, there is one person who does not feel a sense of belonging. That person is me.

My name is Sole. My age is irrelevant. My story, on the other hand, is.

I believe it is no coincidence that I was named with a noun that is synonymous with the word alone. My parents thought it would mean I was unique. Clearly, that isn’t the case. I have never been one to have many friends – in fact, I never had any friends at all. Every time I spoke to someone, they would find a way to get rid of me. They either made up excuses or they just looked at me as if I was this alienated version of a human.