[at-fates-hands]

This.

I had a friend who was very lonely, borderline suicidal. Went to a coffee shop for the same reasons, just to be around people because he thought it would help. Started chatting up the staff when he was getting coffee. Soon he was a regular, but still very lonely.

Doesn't show up one day because he had a doctor's appointment or interview. Phone starts buzzing. It's the people at the coffee shop, checking in on him. They had gotten worried about him and wanted to check in and make sure he was ok. Legit made him break down and cry, realizing there were people who cared about him, cared enough to reach out to him when he didn't show up - meaning they were indeed paying attention to him and enjoyed him being there.

It took some more counseling to get him squared away, but that event completely changed his outlook on life. Sometimes when we get into dark places, a lot just goes by you until someone points it out.