I am so sorry to have found this too late to upvote. This piece calls to the soul of the outsider. People who know me casually are often surprised to hear me say I’m an introvert because years of practice have enabled me to carry on those “fictitious exchanges” so well. But they are so empty. And so common. Authentic communication is rare but your poetry is a stronghold of such authenticity. Thank you for bringing it to this platform and sharing it as you do.