Yesterday, a stranger offered to pay for my coffee at the airport. I hesitated but he insisted, gently explaining "I have only 3 more years to live, there is no point in saving money anyway". A few minutes into our conversation, I learnt that he was in his late 30s and had been sick for the most part of his life. As I took in his words, I tried not to betray my emotions but how does one keep a straight face when there is a stranger telling you that both his parents had died before he even turned ten, and that he himself was now dying? 

His soft soothing voice could not hide how bitter he felt about his life. He told me that he could not bear to be in quiet places because then he cannot avoid contemplating on his life. He goes to sleep with the TV on, wakes up with the TV on, passes his days with the TV on. He does not particularly care what is on the TV as long as it distracts from thinking and being alone with his thoughts. 

"I have lost faith in the idea of a loving God", he continued, "because why would a god allow somebody to exist the way I do"? I did not respond, I did not know what to say and I knew in my heart that he was not looking for answers from me. He just needed somebody to listen to him. I realized he had nobody, in a world with more than 8 billion people.