You'll never walk alone

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There's a Hindi saying that when a person's life is in shambles, even their shadow doesn't stay with them.

My life right now is awesome. I just got a promotion, living happily single, bought my own house, and have a successful YouTube channel. But contrary to the saying, my shadow has vanished.

Did you ever notice your shadow as an adult? As a child, I remember looking at the mysterious black mirror that reflected me in ridiculous circus mirror proportions. But I barely remember it as a grown-up.

That was until last month, I felt a strange void. While walking on pavements as silhouettes of the crowd danced on the surface, mine was missing.

Initially, I thought it had something to do with the sun being overhead. This came from vague recollections of science sessions. But it had truly disappeared. It is a predicament for me because it is not the sort of thing, I can ask anyone. Not that I interact with people a lot.

I try to keep human contact minimal. My work is done from the comfort of my bedroom, my parents live on the opposite end of the country, and I have no siblings and just one best friend.
My best friend however recently got married and now has no time for me. Not even a message from the person with whom I used to talk for 4 hours a day.

As I open the door to my new house, its emptiness reverberates in my heart. I used to share a home with my best friend up until his nuptials.

As I walk into my bedroom, I check my laptop. Not a single message. Upon my promotion, I have been given a more individual contributor role. I used to have a team, where I listened passively to their daily struggles and stories.

I look away and nearly hit my head with the video camera I had set up for my channel. After one successful video, the response to others has been lackluster.

I look at the place where my shadow would have been and burst out crying.