Jem’s feet pressed into the cold, hard sand. He watched the sun inch down gloriously behind the clouds. He would watch daily until he could no longer stand upright, or use the steps.
He’d built the steps years ago, when he’d first landed. Tore his little dinghy apart, used the boards and nails. The steps were rickety, but kept him out of the way of the daily tides. Using the tools from the boat, he’d erected a shelter of sorts. Hunted for food. Found fresh water.
Over time, he learned there is no loneliness like forever alone.
Just Writing! 
And yet he still has that small crumb of hope. Naive perhaps?
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Maybe. I guess it’s better than just taking a long walk into the ocean.
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Hell may be other people, but heaven is too.
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I’ve been thinking about your comment, and needed to respond with more than just a “like.” You’re correct. Other people CAN be hell, depending upon circumstances. I thought about the story of Lou Zampirini, interned in a Japanese prison camp in WWII, suffering horrendous abuse. People all around, but no one who could save him or even try to help him. Hell.
Then I thought about all the people in my life who make it a little bit of heaven on earth. Your simple comment has been in my mind since I read it 7 hours ago. Not such a simple comment, after all.
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Beautifully written and reminded me of that Tom Hanks movie, “Cast Away.”
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Loneliness is something I deal with a lot, as you can guess. But I cannot let it linger long because God has given me my life to LIVE!
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And you are not isolated and without hope.
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Thanks, Dora. Robinson Crusoe did cross my mind 🙂
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Alone, yet, content to carry on despite it all.
This has a nostalgic feeling, Linda. As Dora wrote … a bit of Cast Away.
Be Safe 😷 … Isadora 😎
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Thanks so much 🙂
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True that. Loneliness… the silent and unseen killer of so many. Very poignant story this week.
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Thanks, Bear.
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Oh my… loneliness and being alone are not the same. Has he found some comfort with himself? Does he still hope that one day someone will come? A few questions!
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Good questions. I have no answers. How did he get there? Why does he seem to have no hope of anyone ever coming?
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Love when we are pushed to ask questions 😉
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Yes. I think the best of these short stories leaves us with lots of questions.
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I agree. 🙂
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You told so much said in so few words, You took me straight back to reading about Robinson Crusoe.
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RC was tickling the back of my mind. Been a long time since I read that one.
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Lovely photo ✨
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It was loaned to Friday Fictioneers by one of our writers, CE Ayrs.
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I really hope this person discovers that there has been another person living on the other side of the island 🙂 I feel bad for this person, who seems to do ok in solitude, but when all other choices have been removed it can be tough.
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A thoughtful comment, Lisa. Thanks.
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You’re welcome, Linda.
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Being so completely isolated without a means of communication, without hope and without choice must be like a nightmare. I wonder how the mind reacts to that in the long run. Great writing.
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Thank you. We do know that total isolation, including removal of sensory capability, has been used to torture people into submission. It goes against our instinct for community. At least this man still had his vision, hearing, and so on.
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So many questions about Jem. And about loneliness. And yet he is a survivor, hoping for… What? A great story.
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Thanks so much 🙂
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An awesome tale! Makes me think of Island of the Blue Dolphins. If nothing else I’d have to find some creature I could talk to, or I might go bonkers. 🙂
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Sometimes I think about that Japanese soldier who never knew the war was over, and wasn’t discovered until sometime in the ’80s. Amazing story.
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how sad. no man is destined to live alone.
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True. We need others.
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Makes me wonder why he’s gone where he’s gone, but I guess that’s another story. I hope one day he sees something on that horizon.
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Me too. Sad way to live and die.
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Being marooned and alone on a small island is not the same as being alone amongst other people. Linda, you have created a thoughtful story for us all to ponder.
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Thank you, James.
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I felt your character’s desperation, or what I assume to be so, as he watched the horizon until the sun set, watching for anyone to come. I don’t think I could bear forever alone. Nicely written, Linda, and thought provoking.
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Thanks so much 🙂
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Isolation sends people mad. It’s really a question of time, some are more resilient. During the convict era, they locked people up in complete isolation and those prisoners are said to have lost their minds.
At least he has a good view. Interesting story, L.
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Thanks. I’ve thought about those who have been tortured with isolation and sensory deprivation. It’s quite effective. Horribly so.
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Puts the current lockdown situation into perspective. At least we can see a way out at last.
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Dear Linda,
It seems others have beaten me to the comments. 😉 Wistful and thought provoking piece. Has he no basketball to keep him company? Wilsoooon! Sorry…couldn’t resist. Well written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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Beautiful and that last line is so true.
Of course if he ever makes it back to civilization and puts up a dating profile online, I think he is going to leave out “I love long walks on the beach”.
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🙂
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Mankind is an intrinsically necessarily social creature so that can’t work out. I hope he finds helps soon
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Me too. Maybe a Miss Friday will appear 🙂
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Hey you never know~
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Love that last line. Very well done and so achingly written.
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Thank you. “Achingly” is a good word.
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Sounds like a recipe for madness. Keeping busy and clinging to hope might be the only things that keep him going.
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Yes. I don’t think I’d survive very long.
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A survivor. That level of loneliness must be such a terrible thing to live through. Clinging to hope searching the horizon. Well written
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Thanks, Laurie.
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