I never had a friend

[LadyDaria]

I agree with Grackle that anyone's loneliness and pain should be respected.
However, I understand Grackle's understanding Solitary Man's pain, because you do become aware as you get older that the time for meeting someone is getting much shorter and that you may be alone for the rest of your life. And often you do have more years of being alone behind you.
Solitary Man-I am middle aged (mid fifties) and I lost my last family member 14 years ago, so I can understand where you are coming from.

Me too. I agree he was a bit too harsh but as a 43 year old with both parents dead, no husband and a cat... I kind of wish someone had harshly warned me earlier. Instead they said things like "the sun will come out tomorrow" "you will meet someone" "being a homeowner will be great" "you should get a degree".

Now I have a house a degree and NO friends and they are pretty impossible to make them now. Now that I work day and night. Now that most of my old friends have moved or kids of their own. Ironically when I was in my 30s I couldn't make friends because my parents were sick (and no one understood) and now that they are dead.. I can't really make or keep friends because they are all starting to have their parents get sick and thus have a lot on their plate.

The truth is that at 23 you have way more opportunities socially to make friends and you need to get out there and start doing it.