n.Being lonelier in company than you were alone.
The Human Diary editorial term
The Eighth Floor
There were nineteen people at the table and Farah had spoken forty words.
She had counted, somewhere around the main course, which is the kind of thing you start doing when you have stopped being able to stop.
Eight of them were: No, I'm fine with water, thanks.
Six were: Oh — the one in Bandra? I've heard it's good.
Five were her name, twice, and the name of the man beside her, who she had been introduced to and had immediately lost.